Bettina Wilpert: Radical insights into motherhood and physicality!

Bettina Wilpert: Radical insights into motherhood and physicality!

On June 21, 2025, Leipzig author Bettina Wilpert will read from her new book “The Bearded Woman” at Conne Island. Together with Simoné Goldschmidt-Lechner, she will create a reading that is particularly characterized by a powerful birth scene. The protagonist Alex, who reflects exhaustedly during this emotional moment, impressively shows the challenges and experiences of parenthood and birth.

Her novel is about Alex, who has to help her mother after an accident and is separated from her own daughter for four days. In this work, Wilpert not only addresses the radical physicality and taboo topics surrounding motherhood, but also the complex question of whether her character's queerness disappears with the role of mother. This topic occupies a central position in the reading, especially at a time when social expectations of mothers are still strong and often viewed as patriarchal and sexist, as Goethe.de describes.

A new look at motherhood

Bettina Wilpert, who is also active as a new columnist, writes about the historical and current norms that shape the image of the mother. In her column she examines linguistic images and thought patterns that often stigmatize mothers in Germany. The often used term “raven mother” is examined critically because there are hardly any corresponding terms for fathers. Wilpert also addresses the feeling of guilt that has accompanied many mothers, including herself, since their religious upbringing.

“The Bearded Woman” incorporates the personal experiences of Wilpert, who also has two small children. She reflects on her own image of mother, shaped by Catholic Bavaria, and addresses the changes that arise from the birth of a child. With 192 pages and a price of 22 euros, the book is intended to bring the often undiscussed aspects of motherhood and birth into the public eye.

Social norms and language reflection

The reading will not only be a literary occasion, but will also offer the opportunity to discuss the deeply rooted social expectations of mothers. Historical developments, starting with Jean-Jacques Rousseau through to the idealization of the role of mother during the Nazi era and the models of the post-war period, are discussed by Wilpert in her work. These reflections are particularly important because they show how mothers' self-image has changed over the decades.

Wilpert highlights that many mothers in Germany take long parental leave and often work part-time, which makes them more vulnerable to poverty in old age. These structural problems are reinforced by linguistic images that often reflect the passive roles of women. Using gender-neutral terms like “breast milk” could be a step in the right direction to break down these outdated perspectives.

On June 21, visitors to Conne Island will be able to witness this important literary and social discussion and benefit from a work that not only entertains but also provokes thought.