The Image of Educated Women in Two Interwar Austrian Novels by Female Authors

The article sketches a portrayal of educated women in literature of the interwar period. The ways are shown in which typical experiences of women students are reflected in prose works describing the consecutive stages of scholarly career – from the beginning of one’s university studies to successful independent work. The figure of female student and scientist is shown in the novels concerned as a model example of emancipation, while the influence of a conservative concept of femininity is apparent. The model protagonist is a utopian figure as it harmoniously merges emancipative and conservative elements.