Especially in the early days of parenthood, when days feel long, nights short, and intellectual exchange with like-minded people is rare. This is not just a statement, it’s a reality. It’s also true that moms, in particular, commonly lack space during this time to take a deep breath, recharge their batteries, and exchange ideas. With the seemingly never-ending days also come many questions, uncertainties, and doubts. It’s no wonder, because “When a baby is born, so is a mother,” and they too must learn how it all works! Yet, their needs and wishes are still too often overlooked. This is precisely how Lara Maria Gräfen felt when she became pregnant with the idea of founding Ocre. The platform for moms has since seen the light of day and presents a selection of events, mini-retreats and workshops in its first series “Motherhood,” which honor the unique process of motherhood and offer a safe space for moms to find themselves and mingle with others at herbal workshops, cocoa ceremonies, and pottery classes. And without the almost insurmountable challenge of finding trustworthy childcare. Babies are not only allowed at all events, they’re expressly welcome. In addition to events, Ocre also promises a curated selection of objects dealing with motherhood in the future. We can’t wait!

Text: Stephanie Johne / Photos: Nicki Sebastian, Maike Grimm & Annaroiii

Ocre

@thisisocre

For International Women’s Day (08.03.2024), we’re recommending three books written by female authors that illuminate the diversity and challenges of women* portraying a world dominated by social media, labor in the fields, and the struggle for autonomy. The novel “Ferymont” by Lorena Simmel transports us to a different “idyll” in Switzerland, the fictional village of Ferymont. Here, far from the urban hustle and bustle, we experience a longing for the Swiss lowlands and the capitalist reality of seasonal work through the eyes of a first-person narrator from Berlin. Unique encounters and friendships provide a conscious view of the imbalance between Western and Eastern European regions, focusing on the stories of people often marginalized in society. In our second book recommendation, Anastasia Barner breaks free from entrepreneurial norms. In her book “(Ge)Gründet! Start-up Szene Uncovered,” Anastasia shares what it feels like to be a woman and founder in her twenties in the 21st century.

As the founder of the reverse mentoring startup “FeMentor,” she dismantles taboos surrounding the complex web of female experiences and challenges in an era of selfies and activism, glamor and social awareness. Finally, Maja Haderlap’s moving novel “Women at Night” delves into the lives of three generations of women and their struggle for autonomy. Through vivid imagery, Haderlap tells the story of Mira, her elderly mother, and her ancestors, marked by loss, silence, and guilt, but also forbearance, respect, and perhaps even love. This is a narrative that highlights the voices of forgotten women* who celebrated their strength and resilience amidst oppression and resistance.

Text: Alison Musch / Photos: Jeet Dhanoa, Celine Ylmz & Samson Katt / Cover: Nachtfrauen von Maja Haderlap

Ferymont, Lorena Simmel 

(Ge)Gründet! Start-Up Szene Uncovered, Anastasia Barner 

Women at Night, Maja Haderlap