IDEAS, INTERESTS AND GENDER - WEBER,MARIA NNE CULTURAL SOCIOLOGICAL-INQUIRY

Around 1900, founders of sociology as well as women of the feminist mo vement in Germany were concerned with the interrelation between indivi dualisation, social differentiation and gender difference. Within this constellation Marianne Weber held a prominent position. Her concept o f the new woman containes an early formulation of the modes of female socialisation. While refering to Max Webers concept of ideas and inter ests and to Georg Simmels concept of differentiation, she developed a set of problems which are still with us. Reading her book on marital l aw as well as her essays on the modem woman this paper explores Marian ne Weber's gendered vision of individualisation. It will be argued tha t her writings offer a sociological perspective on the institutional c hange of marriage as on gender relations as well.