There is no state without women:

On the occasion of its centenary in the year 2000, the Federation of Swiss Women’s Organisations (BSF) not only gave itself a new name: alliance F, but also commissioned historian Sike Redolfi to do an analysis of its history. The result of her research was published as a book by NZZ-Verlag: Frauen bauen Staat.

Rarely do we have the opportunity to review a book that is not only written by a female expert but is also dedicated to a historically female topic. Frauen bauen Staat by Silke Redolfi is the result of years of research into the history of the BSF. The historian had to look through countless records, talk to contemporary women eyewitnesses, look for photographic material and research various other archives. And, what was probably the most difficult endeavour: putting the vast amount of material into a form that is readable and digestible. She has succeeded brilliantly.

The beginnings of the BSF can be described as a successful network of committed, highly intelligent and professionally active women. The women from the very beginning included the Bernese aristocrat Helene von Müllnen, the teacher Camilie Vidart and Emma Boos-Jegher from Zurich. Incidentally, the entrepreneur, who grew up in Trento, has Grisons roots. Even when they were not in demand, as was the case with the standardisation of Swiss civil law and a hundred other important deals, they were not afraid to use their connections, which extended as far as the Federal Council chamber, to exert their influence. Even after the First World War, extraordinary personalities were at work in the BSF, who met for marathon weekend meetings, for example, where they plotted their strategies. It is interesting to note the alternation between German-speaking Switzerland and French-speaking Switzerland in the appointments to the presidency and board, which is a true reflection of the Swiss nation. During and after the Second World War, the BSF grew significantly in importance. And in the 1950s, the reorganised BSF was able to unite women’s organisations from the right to the left and with the most diverse objectives under one roof. The fight for women’s suffrage and the right to vote formed the centrepiece. The experience of economic and social crises and cooperation during the Second World War also brought the various women’s organisations closer together. As a representative organisation, the BSF became an important point of contact for the state.It was involved in numerous extra-parliamentary commissions and represented the position of Swiss women there. After 1971, and even more so with the emergence of the new women’s movement, which really frightened the colossus that was the BSF, the association became less and less important. It is interesting to note that the BSF, with its historical tradition of international networking, has always been in favour of opening up Switzerland.

As a reader, you follow the endeavours for women’s rights with increasing excitement. However, one cannot help but sympathise and ask oneself again and again: Why is it that Swiss women did not receive political equality until 1971? The Swiss consensus policy, which did not even stop at the BSF, is partly to blame, if one can say that at all.But also – and Silke Redolfi’s book shows this impressively – the power-preserving strategies of the federal male state.Neither justice nor logic played a role here, but simply power.

Silke Redolfi’s book is also illustrated with photos showing portraits of the many women who have shaped the BSF in its hundred-year history. These are impressive, strong women. It is particularly commendable that they are also presented in individual portraits in the text. In this way, beyond dry history lessons, you get an idea of the atmosphere and the struggles, the divergent opinions and the efforts to bring everyone together. Some BSF presidents sometimes seem like the famous Gluggere who has to keep her chicks together. It makes you wistful to think of the intellectual brilliance and elegance, the power of argumentation of the first female BSF fighters, and it is not uncommon to wish those times back again when reading the book. But one thing is clear. Without women, even if they had no political rights most of the time, Switzerland would be a different country today. Even more patriarchal and even more closed.

* This annotation, written by Silvia Hofmann-Conrad, was published in the 2000 issue of Hortensia, which is a magazine from the Frauenarchiv Graubünden.