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Berlins Drittes Geschlecht
Wie ein Reiseführer nimmt Magnus Hirschfeld seine Leser mit auf einen Rundgang durch das vielfältige homosexuelle Leben in Berlin um das Jahr 1900. Er öffnet den Blick in private Salons und Treffpunkte und öffentliche Kneipen, zeigt die Vielfalt der homosexuellen "Typen", vermeidet es aber auch, Namen und Plätze zu nennen, um nicht die Verfolgungsbehörden auf den Plan zu rufen.
Manfred Herzer gibt in seinem Nachwort wertvolle Hinweise zum Verständnis des Texts, im Anhang findet sich Paul Näckes "Besuch bei den Homosexuellen in Berlin" - ein Text, der eine Hirschfelds Position diametral gegenüberstehende Haltung einnimmt.
Manfred Herzer gibt in seinem Nachwort wertvolle Hinweise zum Verständnis des Texts, im Anhang findet sich Paul Näckes "Besuch bei den Homosexuellen in Berlin" - ein Text, der eine Hirschfelds Position diametral gegenüberstehende Haltung einnimmt.
198 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1904
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 5, 2022
After reading a great deal about Hirschfeld in books about his era, it's very cool to "hear" him speak. His voice is calm, reasoned, and incredibly modern, especially since this book was written well before the years of Weimar tolerance. It's amazing, and depressing, that we are still having debates over the very issues he addresses here and that our right wing and religious "leaders" still use hatred of the other as weapons. Apart from the ideology in this book, it provides a detailed look at gay culture in the first years of the 20th Century and is valuable background for understanding the era and Wilhelmine Berlin in particular. I found the book interesting enough that I tracked down a copy of the 1919 film Anders als die Andern where Hirschfeld appears alongside Conrad Veidt to advocate the same viewpoints he does in this book. All of this of course is a fine reminder that enlightenment is fragile and that tolerance is a human value we must never stop fighting for.
December 19, 2020
It's incredibly depressing to be so painfully aware of how little we've advanced, in so many ways, from the time that Hirschfeld wrote this. I don't mean to say that we've made no progress at all--the fact that I and my friends are able to be out and openly queer is a testimony to that. The fact that our loves, our genders, our relationships are not illegal is testimony to that.
But the fact that Hirschfeld manages to write arguments against things which we are still trying to convince people of, 116 years later...that's frustrating.
But--my god. I know that it's short. I hope that I get to one day read Hirschfeld's longer works, and maybe in the original German. But--the connection that I felt, as a queer person in 2020? I cannot being to explain how many times I began to cry, seeing the lives of myself and my friends reflected, over a hundred years ago. I'm still relatively new to queer history, and I hope to get more deeply involved, but this was an incredibly introduction, because we meet people who are trans, who are lesbian, and gay, and bisexual, we meet a man who could be plausibly read as something resembling asexual, in 1904, or possibly earlier. We see a woman living with her partner, "joined at the hip", and keeping a staff of other queer women. Gay bars, of both the high and low class variety. Lesbian balls, drag balls, gay military men, the fact that the YMCA was as gay in Berlin as it was in America.
To have this as a book and a document was for me, a tangible reminder of the fact that we have always existed, and that our lives and our loves and our genders have been the same for so many years. There have been people who walked this path before me, no matter how many times people try to convince us otherwise.
Absolute euphoria.
But the fact that Hirschfeld manages to write arguments against things which we are still trying to convince people of, 116 years later...that's frustrating.
But--my god. I know that it's short. I hope that I get to one day read Hirschfeld's longer works, and maybe in the original German. But--the connection that I felt, as a queer person in 2020? I cannot being to explain how many times I began to cry, seeing the lives of myself and my friends reflected, over a hundred years ago. I'm still relatively new to queer history, and I hope to get more deeply involved, but this was an incredibly introduction, because we meet people who are trans, who are lesbian, and gay, and bisexual, we meet a man who could be plausibly read as something resembling asexual, in 1904, or possibly earlier. We see a woman living with her partner, "joined at the hip", and keeping a staff of other queer women. Gay bars, of both the high and low class variety. Lesbian balls, drag balls, gay military men, the fact that the YMCA was as gay in Berlin as it was in America.
To have this as a book and a document was for me, a tangible reminder of the fact that we have always existed, and that our lives and our loves and our genders have been the same for so many years. There have been people who walked this path before me, no matter how many times people try to convince us otherwise.
Absolute euphoria.
June 3, 2023
"die weintraube (weil er so leicht gerührt ist)"
August 16, 2020
Berlin's Third Gender (Berlins drittes Geschlecht) by Dr Magnus Hirschfeld is a description of queer lives in Berlin around 1900 (published 1905). Even though it's naturally sad in some ways, it's also encouraging: Berlin was pretty liberal at the time, and I enjoyed the descriptions of queer groups, events, relationships, and creative side-stepping of general conventions. The descriptions are very vivid and obviously well-researched, and contain lots of amusing facts about everyday life in different social circles.
Hirschfeld is not without his problems (he never really believed that homosexuality was quite as good as heterosexuality), but in this book, it barely shows. In reading queer history, you probably won't find less depressing books than this one.
Gems in this book include:
- You can't understand Berlin without understanding gay people. - “I know more than one woman who appears completely like a man when at home.” (Note how he respects the chosen gender!) - Gay people are everywhere, and are the driving force behind a number of restaurants, cafes, small theatres, gymnastics clubs. - Descriptions of compersion that a gay person feels towards the heterosexual partner of their crush: “I can't even say that I was jealous. More like the opposite: A part of my love to K. was transferred to his girlfriend for making him so happy.” - “Stable long-term relationships of homosexual men or women are very common in Berlin.”, arguing against assumptions of “loose” (implied: amoral) relationships. - Both very feminine and very masculine gay men are represented, and of course a lot of people in between those extremes. Among the more feminine gay men, so many were dressmakers that it was worth pointing out in the book. - Family life: Hirschfeld notes that many parents are okay with their kids being gay, but that others lose their family completely. Some wealthy gay people invite the others for very high-class fancy Christmas dinners to make sure they aren't alone and sad while their families meet without them. - Parties. Balls. Celebrations. Small groups of friends or acquaintances. Large groups that meet again and again – not always within their social class, but sometimes. He reports a regular group of gay princes, counts and barons, and a monthly meeting of Lesbian Jews in a particular cafe, where they like to eat cake and play chess. “Homosexuals from the countryside often cry when they enter a place like that for the first time.” - Suicide was not uncommon, both due to unhappiness, but also related problems: Blackmail of homosexuals was rampant, and if people lost their jobs for their sexual orientation, they often killed themselves rather than telling their family the truth. Notably, the blackmail was not condoned by the police, who were surprisingly lax and cooperative, and never stationed any agents provocateur, even though it would have been easy.
Interestingly enough, the book was published when the term "homosexual" was in use already, but not firmly established in Germany yet, and the book uses the term "Uranian" instead (heh.), which I hadn't heard before. The author argues that "homosexual" will make people think that it's all about sex (and I can imagine that with 1900s sensibilities, he wasn't wrong.). He he stresses that queer groups are a socially oriented, and that the sex itself is no more (or less) important than in heterosexual groups.
Hirschfeld is not without his problems (he never really believed that homosexuality was quite as good as heterosexuality), but in this book, it barely shows. In reading queer history, you probably won't find less depressing books than this one.
Gems in this book include:
- You can't understand Berlin without understanding gay people. - “I know more than one woman who appears completely like a man when at home.” (Note how he respects the chosen gender!) - Gay people are everywhere, and are the driving force behind a number of restaurants, cafes, small theatres, gymnastics clubs. - Descriptions of compersion that a gay person feels towards the heterosexual partner of their crush: “I can't even say that I was jealous. More like the opposite: A part of my love to K. was transferred to his girlfriend for making him so happy.” - “Stable long-term relationships of homosexual men or women are very common in Berlin.”, arguing against assumptions of “loose” (implied: amoral) relationships. - Both very feminine and very masculine gay men are represented, and of course a lot of people in between those extremes. Among the more feminine gay men, so many were dressmakers that it was worth pointing out in the book. - Family life: Hirschfeld notes that many parents are okay with their kids being gay, but that others lose their family completely. Some wealthy gay people invite the others for very high-class fancy Christmas dinners to make sure they aren't alone and sad while their families meet without them. - Parties. Balls. Celebrations. Small groups of friends or acquaintances. Large groups that meet again and again – not always within their social class, but sometimes. He reports a regular group of gay princes, counts and barons, and a monthly meeting of Lesbian Jews in a particular cafe, where they like to eat cake and play chess. “Homosexuals from the countryside often cry when they enter a place like that for the first time.” - Suicide was not uncommon, both due to unhappiness, but also related problems: Blackmail of homosexuals was rampant, and if people lost their jobs for their sexual orientation, they often killed themselves rather than telling their family the truth. Notably, the blackmail was not condoned by the police, who were surprisingly lax and cooperative, and never stationed any agents provocateur, even though it would have been easy.
Interestingly enough, the book was published when the term "homosexual" was in use already, but not firmly established in Germany yet, and the book uses the term "Uranian" instead (heh.), which I hadn't heard before. The author argues that "homosexual" will make people think that it's all about sex (and I can imagine that with 1900s sensibilities, he wasn't wrong.). He he stresses that queer groups are a socially oriented, and that the sex itself is no more (or less) important than in heterosexual groups.
August 2, 2023
In the words of James J. Conway, "...this book is arguably the first truly serious, sympathetic study of the gay and lesbian experience ever written".
Truly interesting. Although Hirschfeld and his writings had sometimes inexcusable issues, his activism for and documentation of LGBTQ+ people is amazing. This book allows for the vibrant and surprising complex queer culture of early 1900s Germany to forever hold a place in history. The Afterword and notes from Conway were much needed, especially considering that many cultural/zeitgeist references from the book may be lost to current readers.
I also considered this book to be a harrowing reminder that history can have a cyclic nature. LGBTQ rights can be taken away and progression can be reversed in certain circumstances (as demonstrated with the rise of the Nazi party in Germany).
Truly interesting. Although Hirschfeld and his writings had sometimes inexcusable issues, his activism for and documentation of LGBTQ+ people is amazing. This book allows for the vibrant and surprising complex queer culture of early 1900s Germany to forever hold a place in history. The Afterword and notes from Conway were much needed, especially considering that many cultural/zeitgeist references from the book may be lost to current readers.
I also considered this book to be a harrowing reminder that history can have a cyclic nature. LGBTQ rights can be taken away and progression can be reversed in certain circumstances (as demonstrated with the rise of the Nazi party in Germany).
February 25, 2021
Ontroerende beschrijving van het homoseksuele leven in Berlijn rond het jaar 1900. Magnus Hirschfeld probeert homoseksuelen (urningen) een menselijk gezicht te geven. Hij benadrukt dat de meeste urningen voornamelijk platonische relaties aangingen. Desondanks hebben ze het zwaar en lijden ze onder vooroordelen. Hirschfeld is het duidelijk niet eens met paragraaf 175.
Ik heb een antiquarisch exemplaar in het best lastige gotische schrift gelezen. Maar de heldere schrijfstijl van Hirschfeld maakte het lezen goed te doen.
Ik heb een antiquarisch exemplaar in het best lastige gotische schrift gelezen. Maar de heldere schrijfstijl van Hirschfeld maakte het lezen goed te doen.
August 23, 2020
[gelesen als urheberrechtsfreies Ebook - zB bei Projekt Gutenberg]
Magnus Hirschfeld gibt einen interessanten Einblick in das Leben von Homosexuellen/Uraniern um 1900 in Berlin. Es werden sowohl amüsante wie auch traurige Ereignisse geschildert, gegen Ende äußert er sich leider abwertend zu Prostituierten.
Insgesamt ist das Buch informativ und trotz seines Alters schnell und angenehm zu lesen.
Danke an rixx fürs darauf aufmerksam machen. :)
Magnus Hirschfeld gibt einen interessanten Einblick in das Leben von Homosexuellen/Uraniern um 1900 in Berlin. Es werden sowohl amüsante wie auch traurige Ereignisse geschildert, gegen Ende äußert er sich leider abwertend zu Prostituierten.
Insgesamt ist das Buch informativ und trotz seines Alters schnell und angenehm zu lesen.
Danke an rixx fürs darauf aufmerksam machen. :)
January 22, 2024
3.5
Wenn es aber Abend wird und sich anderen Welten die Sonne neigt, mischt sich mit dem Hauch der Dämmerung ein Hauch, der suchend und sehnend aufsteigt aus Millionen irdischer Wesen, ein Teil des Weltgeistes, den manche den Geist der Unzucht nennen, und der doch in Wahrheit nur ein
Bruchstück der großen gewaltigen Triebkraft ist, die, so hoch wie Nichts und so niedrig wie Nichts, unablässig gestaltet, waltet, bildet und formt.
Wenn es aber Abend wird und sich anderen Welten die Sonne neigt, mischt sich mit dem Hauch der Dämmerung ein Hauch, der suchend und sehnend aufsteigt aus Millionen irdischer Wesen, ein Teil des Weltgeistes, den manche den Geist der Unzucht nennen, und der doch in Wahrheit nur ein
Bruchstück der großen gewaltigen Triebkraft ist, die, so hoch wie Nichts und so niedrig wie Nichts, unablässig gestaltet, waltet, bildet und formt.
March 17, 2021
my eight years of german studies have culminated into me writing an essay about this book. all of my life has lead me here; reading this everything just makes sense. the cause and effect of bigotry. and the lifesaving joy to be found in community. the stories in this book are inspirational, aspirational!
March 19, 2025
爱上直男，男同、直男与直女的狗血三角，报纸上隐晦的交友广告、城市角落里的同性卖春……简直是1900年代柏林的《同性恋亚文化》了（驻扎在柏林的普鲁士士兵中卖春成了一时风潮，令人大跌眼镜），与其说医学不如说是社会学。乐趣一方面来自过去的人如何与当下不同，另一方面来自同性恋的社交方式其实也没多大变化，百年前欧洲的圈子文化也能让我感到熟悉和亲切。赫希菲尔德从未公开出柜，端着一副科学的局外人面孔，时不时还抱怨自己看见的某些行径不体面，今天也不难理解背后的心态。虽然他坚信社会进步要靠科学推动，但他为同性恋成因提出的“科学理论”如今已被视为站不住脚的伪科学，依旧能感动到我们的还是他写作时的人文关怀。关于年轻的同性恋者如何在社会排斥中自寻短见，以及无法回家的同性恋者圣诞节抱团取暖的描写，至今极为动人。
September 29, 2024
Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld - Berlins Drittes
Geschlecht- 1904
Habe mich sehr auf das Buch gefreut Es ist wichtig seine eigene Geschichte (die Vergangenheit von Schwulen und Lesben in 1800/1900 in Berlin) zu kennen Dieses Buch ist ein Muss, wenn du in Berlin wohnst & LGBTQIA+ bist.
Geschlecht- 1904
Habe mich sehr auf das Buch gefreut Es ist wichtig seine eigene Geschichte (die Vergangenheit von Schwulen und Lesben in 1800/1900 in Berlin) zu kennen Dieses Buch ist ein Muss, wenn du in Berlin wohnst & LGBTQIA+ bist.
March 17, 2025
read for class, heartbreaking to think of all the documents the n*zis burned around the scientific research of the queer and trans community in wilhelmine/weimar berlin but an amazing read that is comparable with modern theory
March 25, 2019
Did not finish, but got the drift. Uptight North Americans would have never dared admit any of this happened, little lone wrote about it!
September 30, 2022
An early sympathetic description of gay life in Berlin around 1900. Includes one long work and a related pamphlet, both of which are interesting examples of early gay activism.
April 18, 2022
A great niche book for someone interested in lgbt history and the study of sexuality in the 20th century. Nothing revolutionary (to our ears) is said but it’s wonderfully amazing to see so many talking points that we still use today being said over 100 years ago.
July 20, 2020
After finishing Berlin's Third Sex am mostly in awe at how ahead of the curve Magnus Hirschfeld was in terms of how he wrote about homosexuality and gender-nonconformity in 1904—as a natural express of the human experience, to be embraced and not punished. Of course this is just another reason to hate the Nazis—for burning all of his research.
A lot of this report was geared towards convincing people to consider a repeal of a specific section of Germany's Criminal Code, Paragraph 175 which reads "Unnatural fornication, whether between persons of the male sex or of humans with beasts, is to be punished by imprisonment; a sentence of loss of civil rights may also be passed."
Which for me is a chilling reminder that it wasn't so long ago that ideas like equating homosexuality with bestiality were accepted as law.
A lot of this report was geared towards convincing people to consider a repeal of a specific section of Germany's Criminal Code, Paragraph 175 which reads "Unnatural fornication, whether between persons of the male sex or of humans with beasts, is to be punished by imprisonment; a sentence of loss of civil rights may also be passed."
Which for me is a chilling reminder that it wasn't so long ago that ideas like equating homosexuality with bestiality were accepted as law.
October 23, 2021
A fascinating and well-written document from 1904 about Berlin's gay community and its relation to the larger culture around it. Magnus Hirfschfeld, who wrote this book, was himself gay and a practicing physician—and thus had first-hand access to all levels of Berlin society. Unusual for his time, I think, Hirschfeld believe that "uranians" (his preferred term for homosexuals) were born that way and thus should feel no shame or guilt for their feelings. Much of this book feels relevant today: stories of men and women abandoned by their families for being gay, blackmailing, lost jobs, and suicide. But he also describes Berlin's gay culture as supportive, sympathetic, and at varying levels of self-acceptance.
November 17, 2021
Written in 1904! Are you kidding me?! I am overwhelmed to see the gender-spectrum theory so well understood in the academic literature at the beginning of the 20th century.
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