Sigrid Metz-Göckel facts for kids
Sigrid Metz-Göckel (born August 18, 1940 – died February 11, 2025) was a German expert in how people behave in groups (a sociologist). She also studied how governments work (a political scientist) and how people think and feel in social situations (a social psychologist). She focused on topics like women's and gender studies, which look at the roles of men and women in society. She also researched how people learn and teach (called educational research and didactics).
Sigrid Metz-Göckel was a retired professor at the Technical University of Dortmund. In the late 1970s, she was a pioneer in Germany. She helped start women's studies as a proper university subject. This became an official course at Dortmund University in 1971. She passed away at the age of 84.
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Who was Sigrid Metz-Göckel?
Sigrid Metz-Göckel was an important professor in Germany. She helped create new ways of studying women's roles. Her work made it possible for students to learn about gender in universities. She was known for her research and teaching.
Her Early Life and Schooling
Sigrid Metz-Göckel was born on August 18, 1940. Her birthplace was a small town called Klein Peterwitz in Germany. Her father, Franz-Josef Schneider, was a schoolteacher. He died as a soldier in the Second World War. Her mother, Helene, then raised Sigrid and her two siblings.
After finishing high school in Hanover, Sigrid first studied economics. She went to the University of Mainz. Later, she changed to study sociology at the Goethe University Frankfurt. She finished her first degree in 1966.
In 1972, she earned her Ph.D. (a high-level university degree). She studied social psychology and political science at the University of Giessen. Her Ph.D. paper was about teaching methods in universities. After that, she worked as a research assistant. She also traveled to other universities to learn more. These included places like Poland and the United States.
Her Career and Research
While working in Giessen, Sigrid Metz-Göckel became very interested in women's issues. She attended a seminar about the new women's movement. This movement aimed to improve women's rights.
When she moved to Dortmund, she connected with local women's groups. She helped organize a successful seminar with women students. She then started several women's groups. She also began to study women scientists.
In 1976, she became a professor at the Technical University of Dortmund. There, she created a special center for teaching. This center focused on women's and gender studies. She led this center until 2005.
In 1979, she started a new course called "Frauenstudien" (women's studies). This course helped people learn more about women's lives. In 1981, it became an official university course. She was the scientific director for this course until 2002.
In the 1980s, she worked with another sociologist, Ursula Müller. They did a study about men. It looked at how men aged 20 to 50 lived. It also explored how they viewed women. This study focused on men's own journey towards equality.
Awards and Recognition
In 1998, Sigrid Metz-Göckel received a special honor. She was given the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. This award recognized her important contributions to society.
