Nowadays, most women want both – being a mother and pursuing a career - as the “Monitor Familienforschung” by the Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend reports. A panel survey headed by Jutta Allmendinger shows that only 10 percent of the interviewed women would give up having children for their job and only 29 percent could imagine giving up on work for their children (Allmendinger, 2009, figures 8 and 9). Nevertheless, reality is not completely in compliance with these wishes and that is a challenge for family policy (Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend, Monitor 3). Recent debates about the establishment of a female quota on executive boards, the childcare supplement or the legal entitlement to day-care for children under the age of three show how important female employment and the reconciliation of family and working life have become on a political level (e.g. Merkel, 2013). Nevertheless traditional role models still influence the thinking of many people in Germany and mothers who work (more than part-time) are often called “uncaring” (Luci, 2011, p. 11).
The aim of this paper is to work out which challenges working mothers have to face these days. To provide a better understanding of the development of women’s role in Germany an overview about how it was defined in the past and in the present shall be given in the first part of this analysis. Following this overview, a closer look at the numbers of female employment will be taken to find out which employment relationships are relevant for women in general and for mothers in particular. Afterwards the challenges working mothers have to face due to role assignments and/or in connection with employment relationships will be portrayed. These findings will be summarised and needs for actions identified in the conclusion. It should be noted that this analysis only presents an overview and therefore, does not purport to be complete.
Table of Contents
Introduction
1 The role of women – then and now
2 Common forms of work for women
3 Challenges for ‘Working moms’
4 Conclusion
5 Bibliography
Research Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the multifaceted challenges faced by working mothers in Germany, balancing historical societal expectations with current labor market realities. It investigates how traditional role models continue to influence the reconciliation of family life and professional career paths, while identifying systemic barriers such as childcare availability and the ongoing gendered division of labor.
- Historical evolution of women's roles in German society
- Statistical overview of female employment and working time models
- Impact of traditional family patterns on contemporary work-life balance
- Structural challenges and the "motherhood penalty" in the labor market
- Regional differences in childcare infrastructure and gender role perceptions
Excerpt from the Book
1 The role of women – then and now
Until approximately the 1960’s, the traditional family pattern has been dominating the German minds and judiciary. Andreia Tolciu quotes the Equal Rights Act from 1957 “Es gehört zu den Funktionen des Mannes, dass er grundsätzlich der Erhalter und Ernährer der Familie ist, während die Frau es als ihre vornehmste Aufgabe ansehen muss, das Herz der Familie zu sein“ (Tolciu, 2010, p.27) which basically states that men are supposed to be the breadwinners and women have to take care of household and children. Angela Luci points out that Jean-Jaques Rosseau’s research partly explains the German view: In Germany newborns are considered to be pure good, but the outside world has a negative influence on them (Luci, 2011, p. 13). Consequently it is the parent’s, especially mother’s, to protect them as long as possible from these influences to ensure an untainted moral development (ibid.). Following this, the concepts of life of young women were primarily family-based and married women only worked if forced to due to a low family income (Peuckert, 2012, p. 405).
But there have been a lot of changes. The educational expansion since the 1970s, which allowed women access to quality education in combination with women’s rights movements and other economic changes. The evolution in flexibility on the labour market and increasing rates of women contributing in the work force for example have contributed to a more modern view on family and work (ibid.). Gerhard Bäcker and Brigitte Stolz-Willig explain that demands for gender equality, full participation of women in the work force and social life plus the reconciliation of work and family life have grown while the traditional family pattern lost its exclusivity. Less people are getting married and the birth rate declines whereas more couples separate or file for divorce and new, atypical ways of life occur (Bäcker / Stolz-Willig, 1993, p. 415). Different from the generation of their mothers, young women, beginning in the 1980s, have a less predetermined life and have to ask themselves how dependent on a husband, if at all, they want to be (Geissler / Oechsle, 1996, p. 8).
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This section outlines the societal tension between career aspirations and motherhood in Germany, setting the stage for an analysis of current employment challenges.
1 The role of women – then and now: This chapter traces the transition from rigid, breadwinner-based family models of the 1950s to the more modern, individualized life courses of contemporary women.
2 Common forms of work for women: This chapter analyzes current labor statistics, illustrating the high prevalence of part-time employment among mothers and differences based on family structures.
3 Challenges for ‘Working moms’: This chapter explores the systemic and psychological hurdles working mothers face, including the scarcity of childcare and the persistent "motherhood penalty."
4 Conclusion: This chapter synthesizes the findings, highlighting the necessity for improved childcare infrastructure and a shift in normative gender expectations to support working mothers.
5 Bibliography: This section lists the academic sources and reports used to support the analysis of female employment and family policy.
Keywords
Working mothers, motherhood penalty, Germany, gender equality, reconciliation, labor market, childcare, family policy, part-time employment, traditional role models, work-life balance, employment rates, social change.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this paper?
The paper examines the challenges modern working mothers in Germany encounter when attempting to reconcile professional careers with family responsibilities.
What are the central themes discussed in the analysis?
Key themes include the historical shift in gender roles, current employment patterns, the impact of childcare accessibility, and the ongoing social pressure regarding the division of labor within families.
What is the primary objective of the research?
The primary goal is to identify and portray the specific obstacles—normative and structural—that working mothers face in contemporary German society.
Which scientific approach does the paper utilize?
The paper follows a descriptive analytical approach, utilizing existing statistical data and sociological literature to provide an overview of the status quo.
What is the scope of the main section?
The main section covers the historical evolution of women's roles, presents current employment data including working hours and contract types, and analyzes the structural and social challenges faced by mothers.
Which terms best characterize this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as "motherhood penalty," "reconciliation," "gendered division of labor," and "childcare infrastructure."
How does the author describe the "motherhood penalty"?
The author refers to it as a phenomenon where mothers experience disadvantages not only in wages but also in perceived competence ratings compared to their childless counterparts.
What regional difference is highlighted regarding childcare?
The paper notes that an egalitarian view on gender roles and better availability of childcare facilities are more prevalent in East Germany compared to West Germany.
Do full-time employment rates increase significantly as children get older?
The study finds that even when children are older than 15 years, the percentage of full-time working mothers remains relatively low, not rising above 36 percent.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Jasmin Brands (Autor:in), 2013, Between motherhood and work. Challenges for ‘working moms’ in Germany, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/278185
