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Sonja Hintermeier

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Sonja Hintermeier (* 27 September 1964; † 7 June 2022) was a German publisher, feminist and online activist whose projects were dedicated to closing the gender data gap and the gender knowledge gap.

Career

Sonja Hintermeier studied philosophy, political science and work and organisational psychology in Hamburg, Munich and the USA. She was married to the journalist Hannes Hintermeier. They have two adult daughters, Johanna (1996) and Maria (2000). In 1996 the couple moved to Hamburg; for this, Sonja Hintermeier gave up her job at a consultancy firm where she had worked on European development projects.1Editorial staff (2013): Starke Frauen – Interview-Reihe beginnt mit Sonja Laubach-Hintermeier. In: Bad Vilbeler Anzeiger, post of 21 November. Available online at: https://www.bad-vilbeler-anzeiger.de/starke-frauen-interview-reihe-beginnt-mit-sonja-laubach-hintermeier/ (accessed on 26 July 2023). 2Rittel, Claudia Isabel (2015): Frau der Bücher. In: Frankfurter Rundschau, article of 20 April. Available online at: https://www.fr.de/rhein-main/wetterau/frau-buecher-11255665.html (accessed on 26 July 2023).

Freelance researcher

In 1996 Hintermeier set up her own service business, SLH Research, carrying out scholarly research on behalf of research institutes and compiling dossiers on topics such as social change in Eastern Europe. She found the information in databases: ‘Despite the emerging internet, access to databases and other research resources was far more difficult than it is today.’3Rittel, Claudia Isabel (2015): Frau der Bücher. In: Frankfurter Rundschau, article of 20 April. Available online at: https://www.fr.de/rhein-main/wetterau/frau-buecher-11255665.html (accessed on 26 July 2023).

Publisher of Scoventa-Verlag

In 2008 Sonja Hintermeier decided to found her own publishing house. The name Scoventa is made up of two Latin words: ‘scovare’ (to track down, to find) and ‘adventare’ (to arrive, to reach the goal). The programme focused on narrative non-fiction in the fields of society, medicine/health, technology and economic policy. Up to six titles were published each year.4n.a. (2017): Scoventa Verlag – erzählende Sachbücher. In: Börsenblatt, interview of 4 July. Available online at: https://www.boersenblatt.net/archiv/1346861.html (accessed on 26 July 2023). Hintermeier’s aim was ‘(…) to convey knowledge in a vivid and exciting way’.5Rittel, Claudia Isabel (2015): Frau der Bücher. In: Frankfurter Rundschau, article of 20 April. Available online at: https://www.fr.de/rhein-main/wetterau/frau-buecher-11255665.html (accessed on 26 July 2023). Yet the independent publisher was more than a pure non-fiction house; its programme also included, for example, educational card games (Lernquartette). Close cooperation with the authors and with her regular freelance staff was very important to her.6n.a. (2017): Scoventa Verlag – erzählende Sachbücher. In: Börsenblatt, interview of 4 July. Available online at: https://www.boersenblatt.net/archiv/1346861.html (accessed on 26 July 2023). 7Rittel, Claudia Isabel (2015): Frau der Bücher. In: Frankfurter Rundschau, article of 20 April. Available online at: https://www.fr.de/rhein-main/wetterau/frau-buecher-11255665.html (accessed on 26 July 2023). Felicia Englmann, for example, says of her book Arabersaison. Eine Reise hinter den Schleier der Golfstaaten, published by Scoventa in 2011: ‘I even developed this book project (…) directly with Sonja Laubach-Hintermeier (…).’8Heinold, Wolfgang Ehrhardt (2012): Mein erster Verlagsvertrag! Felicia Englmann vorgestellt von Wolfgang Ehrhardt Heinold. In: Federwelt. Zeitschrift für Autorinnen und Autoren. No. 92, February/March, pp. 46–47.

Scoventa-Verlag existed for fourteen years, during which Sonja Hintermeier published 32 titles, including Steve Johnson’s book on the history of innovation Wo gute Ideen herkommen (2013), the guide for cancer patients and their families Das kleine Buch vom Krebs by Wolf-Dietrich Beecken (2013), Dunja Batarilo’s Die Brückenbauerin: Wie Ute Craemer die Favela Monte Azul verwandelte (2014) and Edward Timms’ Die geheimen Tagebücher der Anna Haag. Eine Feministin im Nationalsozialismus (2019).

Time and again, Hintermeier and Scoventa took part in events for young people entering the book trade; in 2020, for example, she planned a panel discussion on the book industry of tomorrow with book studies students from Munich at the Leipzig Book Fair (which unfortunately, like the entire Leipzig Book Fair, could not take place because of COVID-19).9n.a. (2020): Die Buchbranche von Morgen. In: Börsenblatt, article of 25 February. Available online at: https://www.boersenblatt.net/archiv/1815565.html (accessed on 26 July 2023). In 2017 she presented the publishing house at mediacampus Frankfurt.10n.a. (2017): Neue Verlagsgesichter am Campus. Ein Abend mit Scoventa. In: Website of mediacampus Frankfurt, post of 26 May. Available online at: https://www.mediacampus-frankfurt.de/aktuelles/article/2017/mai/26/neue-verlagsgesichter-am-campus.html (accessed on 26 July 2023).

Together with the author Katrin McClean, the author Ross Raisin and the graphic designer Anja Fuchs, Hintermeier organised international writing workshops for school students. Under the names Global Teens and Fantastic Teens, students from the International School in Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt’s Paul-Hindemith-Schule, the Eppendorfer Gymnasium and a school in Buchholz met in writing symposia to learn how a book is made and to write their own texts. The results included the works Jetzt sind wir dran. Best of Fantastic Teens (2014), So Perfekt Unperfekt. Kurzgeschichten von Schülern aus Buchholz (2015) and No place like home. Short Stories by Global Teens (2016).11McClean, Katrin (n.d.): Jugendprojekte. In: Website of the author. Available online at: https://www.katrinmcclean.de/Jugendprojekte (accessed on 26 July 2023). 12DNB entry (n.d.): No place like home: short stories/by Global Teens; FIS, Frankfurt International School; written & illustrated by: Megan Boles [and 13 others]. In: Website of the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek. Available online at: https://d-nb.info/1099101522 (accessed on 26 July 2023). 13DNB entry (n.d.): So perfekt Unperfekt: Kurzgeschichten von Schülern aus Buchholz/[ed.: RC Buchholz]. In: Website of the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek. Available online at: https://d-nb.info/107329241X (accessed on 26 July 2023). 14DNB entry (n.d.): Jetzt sind wir dran! best of Fantastische Teens/[ed.: Pauw Literaturmanagement; Lutz Bethge]. In: Website of the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek. Available online at: https://d-nb.info/1063060788 (accessed on 26 July 2023). 15n.a. (2017): Neue Verlagsgesichter am Campus. Ein Abend mit Scoventa. In: Website of mediacampus Frankfurt, post of 26 May. Available online at: https://www.mediacampus-frankfurt.de/aktuelles/article/2017/mai/26/neue-verlagsgesichter-am-campus.html (accessed on 26 July 2023).

Publications on Finnish history and culture

From 2017 onwards, Scoventa-Verlag published numerous books on Finnish history and culture. To mark the centenary of Finland’s independence, the following titles appeared under the label Finnland bei Scoventa: Vesa Sirén, Finnlands Dirigenten (2017), Henrik Meinander, Finnlands Geschichte (2017), Marjaliisa and Seppo Hentilä, 1918 – Das deutsche Finnland (2018) and Henrik Meinander, Finnland 1944 (2019). Each of these translations received substantial funding from the Aue-Stiftung (Aue Foundation), a private foundation promoting German-Finnish cultural exchange.

The latest volume in the series, Tytöt (Frauen an der Spitze: Die Grundlagen der finnischen Gleichberechtigung) by Aurora Rämös and Vappu Kaarenoja, has been fully translated but was never printed.16DNB entry (n.d.): Frauen an der Spitze: Die Grundlagen der finnischen Gleichberechtigung / Aurora Rämö, Vappu Kaarenoja. In: Website of the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek. Available online at: https://d-nb.info/1252777019 (accessed on 26 July 2023).

Sonja Hintermeier organised numerous presentations with authors and translators, among others in cooperation with the Deutsch-Finnische Gesellschaft (German-Finnish Society), as well as lectures on Finnish history and culture and in particular on German-Finnish relations in music.17n.a. (2021): Werte. In: Website of the Finnland-Institut. Available online at: https://finnland-institut.de/events/aue-stiftung-werte-helsinki/ (accessed on 26 July 2023).

Memberships and voluntary work

Sonja Hintermeier was active in the citizens’ initiative in Bad Vilbel and in work with refugees.18n.a. (2019): Chance gesehen, Chance ergriffen. In: Wetterauer Zeitung, article of 23 September. Available online at: https://www.wetterauer-zeitung.de/wetterau/bad-vilbel-ort112595/chance-gesehen-chance-ergriffen-13028208.html (accessed on 26 July 2023).

From publisher to online activist

Sonja Hintermeier and Karin Kraus at their event on 6 November 2018 in Frankfurt am Main on the presence of women online and on Wikipedia
Photo: private

From 2018 onwards, Sonja Hintermeier worked with her colleague Karin Kraus on the question of how the presence of women on the internet, and in particular in the digital encyclopaedia Wikipedia, could be improved.19n.a. (2019): Chance gesehen, Chance ergriffen. In: Wetterauer Zeitung, article of 23 September. Available online at: https://www.wetterauer-zeitung.de/wetterau/bad-vilbel-ort112595/chance-gesehen-chance-ergriffen-13028208.html (accessed on 26 July 2023).

At a first event, on 6 November 2018 in Frankfurt am Main, they drew attention to the fact that, at that time, 90 % of the biographical articles on Wikipedia dealt exclusively with men and their achievements. They discussed the issue with a group of women from various fields. Afterwards they jointly founded the project Women Writing Wiki, an initiative that had set itself the goal of increasing the presence of women on Wikipedia. With a team of women authors, they raised funds for their work, wrote articles and published them on Wikipedia.20n.a. (2020): Wikipedia soll weiblicher werden. In: Journal Frankfurt, article of 11 November. Available online at: https://www.journal-frankfurt.de/journal_news/Gesellschaft-2/Women-Writing-Wiki-Wikipedia-soll-weiblicher-werden-36560.html (accessed on 26 July 2023). Dissatisfied with the working methods and the notability criteria of the digital encyclopaedia, they became embroiled in an unproductive dispute with Wikipedia and Wikimedia and withdrew their work from that institution. They decided to found their own digital encyclopaedia project.21Keller, Jana (2023): Kennt ihr schon… Equalpedia? In: frauenseiten.bremen, interview of 1 June. Available online at: https://frauenseiten.bremen.de/blog/kennt-ihr-schon-equalpedia/ (accessed on 26 July 2023).

It was Sonja Hintermeier’s idea to name the encyclopaedia Equalpedia.

Women Writing Wiki became Equalpedia – a gender-equitable digital encyclopaedia with an editorial team and a team of women authors who write encyclopaedic articles based on notability criteria appropriate to women.

Sonja Hintermeier was deeply committed to Equalpedia until her death on 7 June 2022.

She was concerned with the cause of women and other marginalised groups. Hintermeier’s goal was to honour their achievements by making knowledge about these accomplishments publicly accessible.

We, the Equalpedia team, are doing everything we can to continue Equalpedia in Sonja Hintermeier’s spirit. Her joy, her commitment and her passion for the cause are an example to us.

Publications

Own publication

  • Laubach-Hintermeier, Sonja (1998): Kritik des Realismus, in: Chwaszcza, Christine/Kersting, Wolfgang (eds.): Politische Philosophie der internationalen Beziehungen. Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp, pp. 73–95.

Published by Scoventa-Verlag

  • Szczesny-Friedmann, Claudia (2009): Wie du mir. Zu Risiken und Nebenwirkungen im Umgang mit Menschen. Ein evolutionspsychologischer Ratgeber. Bad Vilbel, ISBN 978-3-942073-01-1.
  • Hannemann, Matthias (2010): Der Neue Norden. Die Arktis und der Traum vom Aufbruch. Bad Vilbel, ISBN 978-3-942073-02-8.
  • Englmann, Felicia (2011): Eine Reise hinter den Schleier der Golfstaaten. Bad Vilbel, ISBN 978-3-942073-09-7.
  • Fantastische Teens (2012): … und plötzlich ist alles anders. Ed. by Haus für Jugend, Kultur und Stadtteil Stellingen. Bad Vilbel, ISBN 978-3-942073-13-4.
  • Johnson, Steven (2012): Wo gute Ideen herkommen. Eine kurze Geschichte der Innovation. Translated from the English by Michael Pfingstl. Bad Vilbel, ISBN 978-3-942073-10-3.
  • Lange, Ramona (2012): Chefin gesucht! Ein Ratgeber für selbständige Frauen. Bad Vilbel, ISBN 978-3-942073-05-9.
  • Beecken, Wolf-D. (2013): Das kleine Buch vom Krebs. Die Krankheiten verstehen. Bad Vilbel, ISBN 978-3-942073-18-9.
  • Frech, Karin (2013): Nicht ohne meine Werte. Die Säulen erfolgreichen Wirtschaftens. Bad Vilbel, ISBN 978-3-942073-23-3.
  • Maschke, Sabine (2013): Vom Suchen, Wiederfinden und Entdecken. Bad Vilbel, ISBN 978-3-942073-14-1.
  • Mau, Frank (2013): Risiko Kommunikation. Soziale Netzwerke verstehen. Bad Vilbel, ISBN 978-3-942073-20-2.
  • Mau, Frank (2013): Jetzt sind die Griechen mit Ihrem Latein am Ende. Wie die EU mit allem Mitteln versucht, die griechische Finanzkrise zu lösen. Aus dem Geheim-Dossier des EU-Sondergesandten Ludwig A. Tatzlwurm. Bad Vilbel, ISBN 978-3-942073-21-9.
  • Batarilo, Dunja (2014): Die Brückenbauerin. Wie Ute Craemer die Favela Monte Azul verwandelte. Bad Vilbel, ISBN 978-3-942073-28-8.
  • Fantastische Teens (2014): Jetzt sind wir dran! Best of Fantastische Teens. By Pauw Literaturmanagement and Lutz Bethge. Bad Vilbel, ISBN 978-3-942073-32-5.
  • Goethe-Schule-Harburg (2014): Zwischen zwei Welten. Geschichten über das Leben in Heimat und Fremde. In cooperation with Kulturagenten für Kreative Schulen and Pauw Literaturmanagement. Hamburg: Goethe-Schule-Harburg/Bad Vilbel: Scoventa, ISBN 978-3-942073-27-1.
  • Fantastische Teens (2015): So perfekt unperfekt. Kurzgeschichten von Schülern aus Buchholz. By Rotary Club Buchholz in der Nordheide. Bad Vilbel, ISBN 978-3-942073-34-9.
  • Müller, Lothar/Eckert, Thomas (2015): Was macht mein Kühlschrank im Netz? Ihr Weg ins Internet der Dinge. Bad Vilbel, ISBN 978-3-942073-30-1.
  • Müller, Philipp (2015): net/Strategie für unsere offene Welt. Translated from the English by Bettina Seifried. Bad Vilbel, ISBN 978-3-942073-04-2.
  • Seddiq-Zai, Susan (2015): Ferdinand und die Verteilung des Glücks. Ed. by Fantastische Teens and Blankenburgsche Hamburg Stiftung. Bad Vilbel, ISBN 978-3-942073-41-7.
  • Tendulkar-Dhaul, Laxmi (2015): Berlin-Delhi. Drei Leben zwischen Nazi-Deutschland und Indiens Unabhängigkeitskampf. Bad Vilbel, ISBN 978-3-942073-36-3.
  • Engelbrecht, Michael (2016): Was Kultur ausmacht. Andere verstehen, interkulturelle Grenzen überwinden und gewinnen. Method & training (incl. card game). Spahr, Kristina/Pfau, Katja (co-authors). Bad Vilbel, ISBN 978-3-942073-39-4.
  • Frankfurt Interantional School (2016): No Place like Home: Short Stories by Global Teens. Bad Vilbel, ISBN 978-3-942073-43-1.
  • Riebeling, Julia (2016): Sei ein Familienrebell. Bad Vilbel, ISBN 978-3-942073-37-0.
  • Global Teens (2017): Hero X. Short Stories by Global Teens. Ed. by Frankfurt Internationel School. Bad Vilbel, ISBN 978-3-946926-02-3.
  • Mannsfeldt, Ulrich (2017): Lucky Lawyer. Bad Vilbel, ISBN 978-3-946926-00-9.
  • Meinander, Henrik (2017): Finnlands Geschichte. Linien Strukturen, Wendepunkte. Translated from the Finnish by Roman Schatz. Bad Vilbel, ISBN 978-3-942073-45-5.
  • Sirén, Vesa (2017): Finnlands Dirigenten. Von Sibelius und Schnéevoigt bis Saraste und Salonen. Bad Vilbel, ISBN 978-3-942073-42-4.
  • Carofiglio, Gianrico (2019): Die Kraft der Worte. Gespräche über Politik und Wahrheit. Interview with Jacopo Rosatelli. Translated from the Italian by Karin Fleischanderl. Bad Vilbel, ISBN 978-3-942073-44-8.
  • Global Teens (2019): Short Stories by Global Teens. Ed. by Frankfurt International School. Bad Vilbel, ISBN 978-3-946926-03-0.
  • Hentilä, Marjaliisa/Hentilä, Seppo (2019): 1918 – Das deutsche Finnland. Die Rolle der Deutschen im finnischen Unabhängigkeitskrieg. Translated from the Finnish by Benjamin Schweizer. Bad Vilbel, ISBN 978-3-942073-48-6.
  • Meinander, Henrik (2019): Finnland 1944. Zwischen Hitlers Deutschland und Stalins Sowjetunion. Translated from the Finnish by Benjamin Schweizer. Bad Vilbel, ISBN 978-3-942073-49-3.
  • Timms, Edward (2019): Die geheimen Tagebücher der Anna Haag. Eine Feministin im Nationalsozialismus. Translated from the English by Michael Pfingstl. Bad Vilbel, ISBN 978-3-942073-17-2.
  • Global Teens (2021): Die Zukunft braucht dich. Bad Vilbel, ISBN 978-3-946926-04-7.

Machine translation: This article was translated automatically from the German original.

Foto: Katharina Dubno
Empfohlene Zitierweise
  • Karin Kraus, Jessica Zeltner
  •  (2023)
  • : Sonja Hintermeier. In: Equalpedia. 
  • Online unter: 
https://www.equalpedia.org/en/sonja-hintermeier-2/
  • (Zugriff am 26. September 2026).