When in 1990 the two German states unified, the government of the FRG and the populations
of both states faced a great challenge. During forty years, the democratic West Germany and
the socialist East Germany had developed in opposite directions. The different legal,
ideological, and economic systems were reflected in policies pursued by the governments.
While individual lives in the East were substantially predetermined by the state, people in the
West had greater personal autonomy in shaping their lives.This was highly visible in respect
to the relationship between two essential life spheres: family and work. Despite the generally
higher level of modernization, in the FRG the traditional family form of male breadwinner
and female homemaker was prevailing and endorsed by the government. In the GDR, in
contrast, policies focused on gender equality and the compatibility of employment and family
for women.
The process of unification, thus, meant a long and – initially underestimated – process
of adaptation and accommodation. Speculations that women would turn out to be the losers of
these developments soon proved right. They had to struggle in various domains: since the
breakdown of Eastern industry, unemployment was a permanent threat; previously universal
childcare centers and crèches closed in huge numbers; traditional gender roles and a
completely different value system predominated in the new society. For East German women,
therefore, new opportunities such as freedom of speech and to travel were accompanied by
unknown feelings of uncertainty, insecurity, and fear of their own and their children’s future.
This paper seeks to provide insight in the effects of German unification on women, in
particular in the former GDR. The first section focuses on the circumstances, especially in
terms of employment and family, under which women lived in the two German states. The
major part of the paper discusses women’s lives after unification. A closer look is taken at
changes in the spheres of work, fertility, marriage, housework, and at last women’s attitudes
toward aspects of their ‘new lives’.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Women in the Two German States Before Unification
West Germany: Equality – The Unmet Promise
East Germany: Equality by Decree
Women in Germany After Unification
Work
Fertility
Marriage
Housework
Attitudes
Conclusion
Objectives and Research Themes
This paper examines the impact of German unification in 1990 on the lives of women, particularly those living in the former German Democratic Republic (GDR). The central research goal is to analyze how the transition from a socialist, state-controlled system to a Western market economy influenced gender roles, labor market participation, family structures, and personal life planning for women.
- Comparative analysis of gender policies in pre-unification West and East Germany.
- Evaluation of the economic and social consequences of unification on female employment.
- Investigation of changes in fertility and marriage patterns post-1990.
- Assessment of shifts in attitudes toward work, family, and domestic life among East German women.
Excerpt from the Book
East Germany: Equality by Decree
In accordance with the socialist ideology, the government in East Germany had implemented a system of planned economy that centered on the production of essential goods by a broad class of workers. In that ‘closed industrial society’ (Reissig 1993, cited in Schulze Buschoff 1997), alternatives of individual life planning were quite limited. The standard of living was well below that of West Germany, while at the same time class differences were less distinct. Officially, the leadership pursued policies that aimed at the adjustment of living conditions all over the country (Schulze Buschoff 1997).
Although facing a continuing shortage of labor as a consequence of the planned economy, the GDR guaranteed women (and men) a right to work and even stated that they were obligated to work (Rudolph, Appelbaum, and Maier 1990; cited in Walper and Galambos 1997: 36). The government did not only incorporate equal rights for women in the Constitution, but also enacted supportive laws and affirmative actions to realize the commitment to gender equality and emancipation (Schaeffer-Hegel 1992).
In particular, over the period from 1949 to 1980, special regulations were introduced that aimed at the improvement of women’s situation in the country. The first stage focused on achieving gender equality and securing women’s participation in the workforce. The second stage, launched in the mid-sixties as a consequence of declining birth rates, aimed at ensuring compatibility between parental and professional responsibilities (Marx Ferree 1993). Regulations included protective measures that barred heavy physical labor, night work, and shift work for pregnant and nursing women and for mothers of preschool children; a guaranteed 26-week period of paid leave around childbirth; the baby-year during which a mother could stay at home without losing her job; one day off per month to do housework; up to six weeks paid leave in case of a child falling ill.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides an overview of the challenges faced by the two German states following unification and outlines the paper's focus on changes in women's lives.
Women in the Two German States Before Unification: Compares the West German "male breadwinner" model with the GDR's focus on gender equality and female employment.
Women in Germany After Unification: Discusses the collapse of the Eastern economy and the subsequent impact on various spheres of life, including work, fertility, and social attitudes.
Conclusion: Summarizes how unification brought both new personal freedoms and significant economic hardships, resulting in a persistent conflict between family and work responsibilities.
Keywords
German Unification, Gender Equality, GDR, FRG, Labor Market, Female Employment, Fertility Rates, Work-Life Balance, Socialist Ideology, Post-Socialist Transformation, Childcare, Household Division of Labor, Socio-Economic Transition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The work investigates the socio-economic effects of the 1990 German unification on women, focusing specifically on how the transition from a socialist state to a market economy altered their life spheres of work and family.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Key themes include the comparison of pre-unification gender policies, the collapse of Eastern industrial employment, declining fertility and marriage rates, and the persistence of work-centered attitudes among East German women.
What is the central research question?
The paper asks how the drastic transformation of political and economic systems following 1990 impacted the lives of East German women, particularly regarding their economic independence and ability to reconcile work and family roles.
Which scientific methods are used?
The study conducts a comparative historical and sociological analysis, drawing upon existing academic literature, statistical data, and surveys to compare life patterns in East and West Germany.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The main sections analyze the pre-unification frameworks, the immediate economic challenges following the Wende, changes in labor participation, the drastic drop in fertility and marriage numbers, and the shifts in women's attitudes.
Which keywords characterize the paper?
The paper is defined by terms such as German Unification, Gender Equality, Post-Socialist Transformation, Female Employment, and the intersection of work and family life.
How did the unification affect the employment status of East German women?
East German women faced massive job losses due to the collapse of Eastern industries, increased competition, and the loss of state-supported childcare, leading to significantly higher unemployment rates compared to men and their Western counterparts.
What does the text conclude regarding East German women's life plans?
The conclusion suggests that despite political and economic upheaval, East German women remain strongly oriented toward full-time work and continue to prioritize the combination of professional and family life, rejecting the Western "housewife" model.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Kirsten Kuptz (Autor:in), 2004, Family and Work - Women in Germany after Unification, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/25108
