Fembio Special: Women from Vienna
Johanna Dohnal
(Johanna Dohnal, née Dietz)
born on February 14, 1939 in Vienna, Austria
died on February 20, 2010 in Grabern, Austria
Austrian politician (SPÖ), feminist
15th anniversary of death on February 20, 2025
Biography
The politician “everyone now knew” since she had been voted Woman of the Year by Austrian journalists in 1992 was welcomed by Axel Corti to his ORF television studio with the words ’Guten Abend, Frau Minister Johanna Dohnal.’ He then noted she was obviously still having to “to put up with” being addressed as “Frau Minister”. Johanna Dohnal immediately corrected him: “You’re wrong there. It’s Frau Ministerin.” Austria’s first Federal Minister for Women – previously State Secretary for Women – demanded gender-appropriate language and she insisted throughout her term of office (1990–1995) on the title Ministerin and on being addressed as Frau Ministerin.
The illegitimate daughter of a worker, Johanna Dohnal was raised by her grandmother in Vienna's Penzing district. She joined the SPÖ (Social Democratic Party of Austria) at the age of 16, working first as secretary of her party’s chapter in Penzing and then as a district officer for the Kinderfreunde (Children’s Friends).
In 1969, the trained industrial clerk became a district councilor, and in 1972 she was appointed the party’s Secretary for Women’s Affairs in Vienna. “When I talk about women's policy, I mean an active policy of equality and anti-discrimination with the aim of creating gender-democratic conditions.”
Johanna Dohnal was relentless in her pursuit of political change. Regarded as a “women’s libber” by the media, she campaigned passionately for women's rights. In 1974, for example, she argued in the campaign “Help, don't punish” for the legalization of abortion within the first three months of pregnancy; the law was enacted by parliament and went into effect in 1975. She helped set up women's service centers as well as the first women's shelter in Vienna that then opened in 1978. She championed key causes and succeeded in achieving meaningful change; she strove always for the goal of ensuring “that every single person has a humane existence. Whether as men or as women and also right from the beginning of their lives - as children.” For her, this included education and training. “Daughters can do more” was the slogan of the campaign in 1984 that encouraged girls to build careers and to live their lives outside of the traditional women’s occupations.
“Power relations are neither ahistorical nor gender-neutral.” Among other things, Johanna Dohnal ensured that single mothers could also be appointed the legal guardians of their children, that children do not automatically receive the citizenship of their father, and that it is not the abused women who have to leave the apartment, but the violent men. It is thanks to her commitment that there is parental leave and the Federal Equal Treatment Act.
Johanna Dohnal was a member of the government for 16 years – in six legislative periods and under three heads of government. She remained steadfast in her convictions and combined the objectives of the women's movement with institutional politics. In 1995 she resigned as Minister for Women and as Federal Women's Chairwoman of the SPÖ. She remained active after her retirement from politics, and she continued to support numerous initiatives and organizations, such as the 1997 women's referendum or SOS Mitmensch. There is a Johanna Dohnal Award for female students whose diploma theses or dissertations promote the realization of gender democracy and serve as role models in education and training. Johanna Dohnal partial scholarships are awarded to young female scientists working on a technical and/or feminist topic.
In 2005, the title of Honorary Citizen was conferred on her by the city of Vienna. In 2006 she was asked in an interview with an.schläge if she could imagine being President Johanna Dohnal. She replied: “Impossible. I’m all for debate and even polarization. The representative duties of a president would be incompatible with my approach towards life.”
Johanna Dohnal died of her heart condition on February 20, 2010.
(Text from 2008, updated 2010, translated with DeepL.com; edited by Ramona Fararo, 2025.
Please consult the German version for additional information, pictures, sources, videos, and bibliography.)
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