Munich Oktoberfest Ride Updates Figures Amid Sexism Claims

Munich's iconic "Teufelsrad" (Devil's Wheel) ride at the Oktoberfest has undergone a visual overhaul following accusations of sexism and racism. The city's gender equality office and democracy unit prompted operators to revise the ride's figures, which had previously featured a woman in a short skirt and a Black figure depicted without a top and shoes, described as a "Hawaiian woman."

Critics highlighted that the ride's previous design "played with the flying up of skirts and the resulting view of the intimate area," referencing the problematic practice of "upskirting", the illegal photographing or filming under skirts, which is reportedly a recurring issue on the "Teufelsrad." Furthermore, the depiction of the Black woman as the sole figure without shoes was deemed to perpetuate a racist stereotype.

In response, ride operator Elisabeth Polaczy has updated the figures. The women now wear blouses and "Radlerhosen" (cycling shorts). The "Hawaiian woman" has had shoes painted on, as painting her barefoot was considered discriminatory by the gender equality office. Reports indicate that the city had previously suggested making the "Teufelsrad" more "diverse," noting that some figures had low necklines and short skirts, and even proposed including a male figure among the four.

However, the revisions have not been universally welcomed. Opposition within the city council, particularly from the CSU party, has labeled the action "a toast to prudery." They argue that the city administration intervened in a decades-old historical representation without prior political consultation, with CSU faction leader Manuel Pretzl suggesting critics had "lost all sense of proportion."