Clothing is of central importance for the symbolic representation of ideas and ascribed characteristics of the social categories of masculinity and femininity. This is particularly evident in the Western cultural sphere with regard to trousers. As a symbol of masculinity and social dominance, wearing trousers was reserved exclusively for men for centuries. Consequently, the introduction of trousers into European women's fashion since the mid-1950s was fraught with conflict and had a significant impact. With the establishment of women's trousers, the vestimentary gender distinction in both German post-war societies was fundamentally called into question. As a result, the meanings and associations linked to trousers underwent profound changes: they evolved from a male privilege to an expression of modern femininity.