The Holocaust Center of Florida presents
2025 White Rose Essay Contest
Research Prompt: Women & the Holocaust
Explore the experiences and roles of women during the Holocaust, considering both Jewish women and non-Jewish women who were impacted by or involved in Holocaust-related events. Take a stance on how the unique actions taken by women contributed to survival, resistance, and the overall outcomes during the Holocaust.
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The HMREC White Rose Essay Contest provides an authentic speaking, listening, and writing experience for high school students.
Using survivor testimony and primary sources, students can synthesize researched information to demonstrate understanding of the Holocaust and how it happened. They can use the contest to better understand the rhetorical concepts of audience, purpose, genre, and style.
By conducting original research and consuming and producing across multimedia, the contest provides students an opportunity to explore an integrated model of literacy.
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Participants must be students in the state of Florida.
Students must be currently enrolled in grades 8-12.
Students must provide sponsorship by a school or teacher. One entry per student is allowed.
Educators need to submit an “intent to enter” form available here.
Essays must be submitted either by email to spoynor@holocaustedu.org or by mail to:
ATTN: Stephen Poynor
HMREC
851 N Maitland Ave
Maitland, FL 32751
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Research papers will be evaluated on adherence to presented prompts as well as the development of content and theme, original expression, historical accuracy, grammar, and mechanics. They must meet the following detailed criteria:
a. Adherence to theme responding to presented prompts.
b. Evidence of historical research - comprehensive and accurate; not written in the first-person or as fiction; substantial supporting detail with a minimum of 3 direct quotes that support your response. Minimum of 5 primary sources, including at least (1) testimony used in research.
c. Synthesis of information - gathered from a variety of electronic and nonelectronic sources, all properly cited; all citation styles are accepted, but citations must be consistent; internal citations, footnotes, or endnotes are acceptable. The databases and links to SPONSOR APPROVED internet sources are provided, but you are not limited to those sources. Wikipedia is not an acceptable original source.
d. Writing must be free of plagiarism - those passages copied directly from other sources, without proper citations, or containing vast amounts of quoted or minimally paraphrased material are subject to disqualification.
e. Personal insight and reflection– describing your own feelings and using a creative writing style.
f. Typed - double-spaced, with one-inch margins and size 12 font; Times New Roman font; 750-word minimum.
g. Maximum of 1500 words; all words in the body of the paper are counted in the total; internal citations do not count. The paper must include a well-developed introduction with body and conclusion.
h. Essays submitted by the due date.
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January 10, 2025 - Registration start date
February 5, 2025 - Start date for submissions
March 20, 2025 - Digital submission due date
April 27, 2025 - Awards ceremony at Yom HaShoah commemoration
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$1,000 - 1st Place Student | $500 Sponsoring Teacher
$500 - 2nd Place Student | $250 Sponsoring Teacher
$250 - 3rd Place Student | $100 Sponsoring Teacher
Individuals will be responsible for claiming/reporting for tax purposes on all awards.
Inspiration: Response to the Holocaust
The Holocaust highlights the diverse roles and responses of women during one of history’s darkest periods, revealing their capacity for resilience, sacrifice, and even complicity in the face of immense brutality. Many Jewish women fought to survive unimaginable conditions in ghettos and camps, adapting to daily challenges that often differed from those faced by men.
Non-Jewish women also played critical roles, risking their lives to hide Jewish families, smuggle individuals to safety, or act as couriers for resistance movements. Their actions saved countless lives and demonstrated remarkable bravery in the face of oppression. However, these efforts were often the exception rather than the rule, as many others either remained passive or participated in the Nazi regime’s atrocities. Female guards and collaborators further highlight the complex spectrum of behavior exhibited during the Holocaust.
These varied responses—from acts of heroism to complicity—are vital for understanding the broader narrative of the Holocaust. Women’s experiences provide unique insights into the human capacity for both resilience and moral failure under extreme circumstances. By examining their roles and actions, students gain a deeper understanding of this history and the lessons it offers for addressing discrimination, oppression, and human rights in the present day.
“Somebody, after all, had to make a start. What we wrote and said is also believed by many others. They just don't dare express themselves as we did.”
-Sophie Scholl
Essay Prompt: Women in the Holocaust
Step 1: Research Points to Consider
Choose one of the following points to guide your research:
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How did Jewish women adapt to and survive the conditions in ghettos, labor camps, and concentration camps? Consider specific stories such as that of Roza Robota, who organized resistance in Auschwitz, or the accounts of women like Renia Kukielka, who acted as a courier. What unique challenges did they face that were different from those faced by men?
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Consider the roles of mothers during the Holocaust. How did women attempt to protect and care for their children amidst such dire circumstances? Look at specific examples, like the story of Olga Lengyel, who recounted her attempts to keep her family together, or the mothers in the Theresienstadt ghetto who maintained schools for children. What were the unique sacrifices made by mothers?
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What specific actions did women take in resistance movements, both organized and spontaneous? How did their contributions differ from or complement those of men, and what measurable impact did they have on resistance efforts?
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What specific actions did women take in resistance movements, both organized and spontaneous? How did their contributions differ from or complement those of men, and what measurable impact did they have on resistance efforts?
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Examine the specific actions of non-Jewish women who assisted Jews, such as those who hid Jewish families or helped smuggle them to safety. What were the measurable outcomes of their actions, and how many lives were saved as a result? What motivated these women to take these risks?
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Explore how women experienced unique forms of persecution and abuse, such as sexual violence, forced sterilizations, and medical experiments. What were the measurable impacts on their physical and psychological well-being both during and after the Holocaust? How did these experiences influence their post-war lives and the recovery process?
Step 2: Write
Using the information gathered, take a stance on the significance of women's experiences during the Holocaust. Analyze how the specific actions and experiences of women offer a unique perspective on the events of the Holocaust.
Include measurable outcomes where possible, such as the impact of women’s roles in resistance or the number of lives saved through their efforts. Use survivor testimonies, historical records, and scholarly sources to support your argument.
Step 3: Reflect
What lessons can we learn from the experiences of women during the Holocaust that are relevant to today? Reflect on how their stories can help us better understand the impacts of discrimination, resilience in the face of adversity, and the importance of human rights.
Consider how these lessons could be applied to current issues facing women globally, such as gender-based violence, persecution, or activism.
