Radio 1: Far-right AfD in trouble over inappropriate memes

The far-right AfD usually makes the news because of the party’s policies. Now it’s making headlines because of a stolen meme—with… spelling mistakes.

Germany expert Ulrike Nagel explains this to host Sophie Derkzen.

Summary of this conversation

The video discusses an online blunder by the radical right-wing German party AfD.

• The Meme [00:26]: The AfD Saxony chapter posted a meme on Instagram depicting two women. On the left, a “modern feminist” (looking gloomy, heavier, dyed hair, angry) and on the right, an idealized image of a woman (blonde, slim, with a baby, healthy self-image thanks to her natural skin). The captions characterized the women using stereotypes.
• The Mistakes and Backlash [01:20]: The meme, a translation of an American version, contained many spelling errors and was quickly removed—but not before people had seen it. The uproar was caused by the spelling errors and the humorous reactions they sparked on Twitter [01:39].
• Historical Context [02:16]: The “neat woman” on the right was seen as a paragon of the “Aryan mother” promoted in Hitler-era propaganda, which the party apparently wanted to convey.
• Possible Reason for Removal [02:34]: One Twitter user suggested that most female AfD voters resemble the woman in the left-hand image more than the party’s idealized image.

Background

“It’s a drawing of two women,” Nagel explains about the meme. “On the left is a woman with a somber expression. She’s wearing a shirt that’s too short and has her arms crossed, with the text ‘modern feminist.’ And to the right of her stands a blonde, slender woman in a light blue dress, holding a bundle in her arms that’s supposed to represent a baby.”

Surrounding them are captions intended to characterize the women. “For example, next to the woman on the left it says that she is unkempt, has had three abortions by the age of 22, is proud of it, and is constantly in new relationships.” The woman on the right is the epitome of how the AfD would like women to be. “She’s slim, puts her children and family first, and has a healthy self-image thanks to her natural skin. That’s really what it says!” Above it reads ‘Die traditionelle Frau’ (The Traditional Woman). “The entire meme was copied from an American version, which was also circulated by far-right parties a few years ago.”

The Instagram post on the AfD Saxony account was removed shortly after publication. “These derogatory drawings—which also contained quite a few spelling errors—made this post the butt of jokes on Twitter. People responded with a lot of humor online.”

One of those reactions was: “Why is that woman carrying a loaf of sourdough bread?” There were also critical comments about the content, Nagel explains. “The prim woman on the right is a sort of paragon of the ‘Aryan mother’ who was promoted as a propaganda figure under Hitler.”

On “Bureau Buitenland,” you’ll hear international news, reports, and geopolitical analysis. Featuring background stories and remarkable tales, Monday through Friday from 1:30 to 2:00 p.m. Hosts: Sophie Derkzen and Tim de Wit

Germany expert

Ulrike Nagel