Lebensreform
Sign in to savethumb|One significant aspect of the Lebensreform movement was the promotion of healthy reform clothing. This 1911 photograph depicts a woman wearing a dress in the so-called reform style, characterised by the absence of a Tightlacing|tight-laced [[corset.]] Lebensreform (; 'life reform' in English) is a German term that serves as an umbrella for various social reform movements that have emerged since the mid-19th century, particularly originating from Germany and Switzerland. In their early days, these movements were predominantly supported by the burgher class (Bürgerstand, urban residents),
Article
9 sectionsContents
- History
- Connections to Nazi ideology
- Effect in the United States
- Today
- Comparison of ''Lebensreform'' with other social movements
- Books that influenced ''Lebensreform''
- See also
- References
- Bibliography
thumb|One significant aspect of the Lebensreform movement was the promotion of healthy reform clothing. This 1911 photograph depicts a woman wearing a dress in the so-called reform style, characterised by the absence of a Tightlacing|tight-laced [[corset.]] Lebensreform (; 'life reform' in English) is a German term that serves as an umbrella for various social reform movements that have emerged since the mid-19th century, particularly originating from Germany and Switzerland. In their early days, these movements were predominantly supported by the burgher class (Bürgerstand, urban residents), particularly the urban intellectuals, and were characterised by common features such as the critique of industrialisation, materialism, and urbanisation, coupled with a desire to return to a natural state of living.
The objectives of Lebensreform included the promotion of a natural and healthy lifestyle to counter the detrimental effects of these factors on health and overall well-being. Common practices associated with the movement encompassed vegetarianism (advocating for a diet free of meat, typically motivated by ethical, health, and environmental reasons), naturopathy (the use of natural remedies for healing), naturism (embracing natural environments and was closely associated with the Freikörperkultur movement, which promoted the benefits of unclothed exposure to natural elements such as sunlight, fresh air, and water), physical fitness and posture care through gymnastics and expressionist dance, and clothing reform aimed at promoting more natural and comfortable attire.