Austria changes national anthem to include women

By Albert Otti Dec 7, 2011, 18:07 GMT

Vienna - Austria's parliament changed the text of the national anthem to include a reference to women on Wednesday -despite opposition from far-right parties.

While Austria was described in the old lyrics as 'homeland of great sons,' citizens will now sing of 'homeland of great daughters and sons.'

'Language is a very important part of gender equality,' Social Democratic legislator Gisela Wurm said.

The govering coalition of Social Democrats and centre-right People's Party passed the amendment, supported by the votes of the Greens.

Right-wing representative Heidemarie Unterrreiner said that 'it is an undignified act to adjust a state symbol to the spirit of the time.'

Her Freedom Party and the Alliance for the Future of Austria also criticized that women faced more serious problems than the lyrics of the anthem, such as low salaries and a lack of child-care facilities.

The anthem debate was kicked off last year, when the Education Ministry launched an advertising spot in which Austrian pop singer Christina Stuermer sang about 'sons and daughters.'

Among those opposed to a new version were the heirs of Paula von Preradovic, the woman who wrote the lyrics after World War II.

They lost a copyright lawsuit against the pop version, as a court ruled that developments in society warrant small changes in the anthem.

The far-right parties also argued that Austrians did not care about such a trivial issue like discussing whether the new lyrics should be 'daughters and sons,' or 'daughters, sons.'

Their point that was reinforced when a panel of linguists on Wedneday chose 'daughtersons' as the most annoying catch phrase of the year.