Süssmuth, Rita (1937—)

German academic and politician who rose through the ranks of the Christian Democratic Union Party to become the German Parliament's president in 1988. Name variations: Rita Sussmuth; Rita Suessmuth. Born on February 17, 1937, in Wuppertal, Germany; educated at universities of Münster, Tübingen, and Paris; married Hans Süssmuth (a professor); children: one daughter.

Born on February 17, 1937, in Wuppertal, Germany, Rita Süssmuth studied at universities in Münster, Tübingen, and Paris. She then taught at several German universities, including those at Stuttgart and Osnabrück from 1963 to 1966, the Pädagogische Hochschule Ruhr from 1966 to 1969 (to which she returned in 1971), and the University of Dortmund in 1980.

Aligning herself with the Christian Democratic Union Party, Süssmuth rose through the ranks and worked on several governmental committees on women, children, marriage, and family affairs throughout the 1970s and 1980s. She served as the director of the research institute Frau und Gesellschaft (Women and Society) in Hanover before assuming the role of chair of the Christian Democratic Union Women's Association in 1986, and minister of Youth, Family Affairs, Women and Health the following year.

In 1987, Süssmuth joined the Bundestag, the German equivalent of Parliament, and became its president in 1988. She headed the governing body until the close of the 20th century. A persuasive advocate of social justice, she often defended politically disdained perspectives on controversial issues. She also questioned the leadership within her own party and continued in her efforts to advance women's issues. Following the end of her presidency of the Bundestag, she continued in politics as the parliamentary deputy for the Christian Democratic Union, visiting Slovakia to lecture on European unification.

sources:

Drost, Harry. What's What and Who's Who in Europe. NY: Simon & Schuster, 1995.

International Who's Who, 1998–99. Europa Publications, n.d.

The Johns Hopkins Gazette. May 18, 1998.

Jo Anne Meginnes , freelance writer, Brookfield, Vermont