East versus West Germany Women Before and After Unification - Research Paper Example

? East versus West Germany Women Before and After Unification Table of Contents ………………………………………………………….…….3 2. Introduction……………………………………………………….……...4 3. Women in East and West German before Unification……………..……..6 Labor market……………………………………………………….….6 Child care……………………………………………………….……..7 Marriage and family…………………………………………..……….8 Education……………………………………………………..……….9 4. Women in German after unification………………………………….....…9 Family formation……………………………………………………….9 Labor market…………………………………………………………..10 Education……………………………………………………………...10 5. Conclusion……………………………………………………………...….11 6. References………………………………………………………………....12 Abstract Democracy should not be interpreted as the right of people to exercise their political call. It is rather the establishment of an egalitarian society. A society that balances on the social welfare, economic, and the political choices of the people. Germany was not known as the multi-racial community before and even after Second World War (Fasang, 2011:75). The resolution of the country to dissolve into East and West Germany came up with a totalitarian society. Restrictive policies especially the race of women in economic field and family positioning has formed a fundamental base into study of human rights. Like many world countries had assumed their government bureaucracies, Germany was languishing in self destruction and struggle for self actualization. The contrasting policies have shaped the current Germany society, which forms the thesis of this research paper. East versus West Germany women: before and after unification Introduction Four decades (1949-1989) after Second World War, Germany was split into two countries. This period brought unequalled experiences concerning the effect of policies and institution on gender and work between the two states (Ruspin, 2002). The communist Germany Democratic Republican (GDR) of the east, and the Western Federal Republic (FRG-Federal Republican of Germany). Just like the division in the country, the two sides had diverse philosophies. This paper explores the contrasting policies of the East Germany- a side, which lived in socialistic domain of a central economy, communist employment, and embracing family welfare. For the western side, this research further clarifies on the conservatism approach they embraced. A controlled welfare for the people, a multiparty congress, and market economy was what defined this side of Germany. This division had far-reaching consequences not only in the state affairs, but also the family was as well affected. While West Germany confined their women into selective rules, the Eastern counterpart valued and recognized paid labor for both genders. In this respect, the Western side had confined working into men alone (Fasang, 2011). Work discrimination was highly evident affecting women to a larger degree. One extend of socialist dictatorial political system with a planned economy and the pluralist democratic system operating in a market economy, their social status was not that valued. The decade is fiercely characterized by effects it caused to family and the women in particular. For example, the paper analyses how family life in East Germany was affected by cultural heritage of the bourgeois family, unyielding labor policy and the free socialist society. Despite their policies embracing a considerable modernity and gender equality, freedom was still limited. Gender equality, integration on occupations and the division of labor at home was more feasible in western policies than in the Eastern counterpart (Ruspin, 2002). The end of this divided nation in 1989 saw West Germany took the control and embarked of swift changing of the existing policies. They altered the long living employment structures and the institutions to suit their bureaucracies. This era was almost realizing unification and the unchanged and the unaffected western side had taken over and further dented the welfare of East Germany women (Ruspin, 2002). They employment modalities and status changed again, and this was as a result of changed industrial and occupational restructuring, acute labor market crisis and unappealing policy change. The fact that these East and West sides of Germany had separated and later reunited, presents a unique case since it is not a common phenomenon. It is a case of interplay between states, market arrangements, and the broad topic of women integration into the society (Fasang, 2011). The economic and social gender equality and statuses in East verses West Germany Women was the central focus. The social imbalances in employment and other social fields were the areas of concern. The status and class in this historical period and whose consequences were many become well established in the 1908s. The overview of the changes that took place in the ten year decade and the after math presents the real test in proving how a western world society had been languishing in self exploitation and to what seemingly can be the tangible (Fasang, 2011) human rights violation. First benefit of this analysis is on the different legal, ideological, and economic systems of the women in East and West of Germany. This is critical because the individual lives of people in West Germany, was totally constricted under the laws of the state. This was contrary to the East Germany who were enjoying a greater personal freedom and the autonomy in their livelihood. The other concept of family and work in these two sides of the same state is the second area of analysis (Ruspin, 2002). This resulted despite the current wake of modernization in Germany. In the western side of (Federal Republican of Germany), traditional family form of men acting as breadwinner was the norm of the day. This had reduced women into homemakers. Policies focused in gender equality, the rights of accessible employment and the value of a woman in the society was, the culture prevailing in East of Germany. The modalities, which resulted in reunification will also be of discussion. This move to bring the two sides together was not a one time action. It involved a long process of denial, underestimation and looking down upon each other. Before the realization of comprehensive, adaptation and accommodation, the fear of women’s place in society had been pre-meditated. It came to be since they had to deal with the realities of the day and the struggle they faced in different domains (Marcuse, 2008). For example, their place in employment, the struggling healthcare project and traditional gender roles of this new society, were some of the vices they had to live with. The effect of German re-unification upon women will be addressed and the life in the era’s of uncertainty, insecurity, and the dwindling life of their children and their own, will also be discussed in the paper. Finally, a closer look at the gradual but slow changes which took place in the spheres of work, fertility, marriage, and housework and women perspective in the lives they were living. This research rotates on the status of German women before and after unification, and how their presence shaped the future of EAST and West German women in areas like labor market, childcare policy, education as well as family and marriage. Women between the two German states before unification Labor market First, the German states (East and West) urgently needed labor in their job market as men could not service adequately. These two states operated under two philosophies (Ruspin, 2002). The East Germany promised and lived in that line believing in equality and it was lawfully stated. The other side of West lived the mirage of a promised but never fulfilled equality. The law legitimately allowed for full equality and equal opportunities in service to the nation but the implementation was never to be there. They acted slowly and unpunctually. For the women in the West side, the major barrier was that their principle of gender equality was not extended to the freedom of employment between them and their prospective employers. Despite this embodied in the constitution, women never had the privilege to enjoy full time working. The government lagged so much with less consideration given to women in their place in labor market yet the constitution had allowed for that. The Conservative West (FRG) argued that, right of employment was essentially not compatible with motherhood (Fasang, 2011). This was how women in West Germany were cut off from participating in market industry. The nation had comfortably settled for a traditional family life. The women were of no service and could not play and constructive role for the state. They were to provide for men. Traditionally, the view of women in society was to attend to children, go to church, and offer service from the kitchen. This was a way of limiting women involvement in job acquisition I West German state. This was later idolized and recognized women into full motherhood life (Ruspin, 2002). This meant that the female gender was cut off from working of which was a violation of their rights since initially was enacted by law. This was further reinforced when men were given the right under state laws to decide the fate of their working wives. The Eastern counterpart had still their own system to follow. The government had established a controlled system of economy. This meant that production of essential goods was to be high thus required a good number of working class (Fasang, 2011). The government had faced a challenge in seeing this policy of maximum industry production. Unlike the Western counterpart who were facing limitation on exercising their right to work, the GDR state of East allowed women to fully exploit their right to work. It was later termed by many researchers as though they were obligated to offering services to their country. As this not enough, the GDR government was committed to seeing the full freedom in position of work for women. The state enacted laws like limited working hours; that firmly positioned women and their place in the working field. The women of the East, unlike the Western counter part had seeing their recognition and their right to work put into practice. This was a big step to leveling the gender imbalances that the Western side was going through. An equal gender opportunity was one of the main policies to resuscitating their after war reviving economy. Everybody, unlike the West was to be involved-men and women. Nonetheless, the women of the East further received privileges. The government was as well aware of the challenges that this gender was facing ( full hours, better child care centers, and competitive educational courses) (Ruspin, 2002) and they supported full women recognition for their improvement of their statuses in the society. In this respect they had the right to participate in work force as well as competitively assert their social status in a era that placed men high above. Child care Moreover, the policy of social child care had considerably deteriorated the women social and economic status in both the two states. For example, in the FRG of the West, child care was one of the staunch blocks for women to pursuing competitive careers (Fasang, 2011). The programme was so inhibitive to the women of this state since the centers were unaffordable. Even though the law guaranteed them a place in the labor industry, the child care acquisition was kind of scheme which seemingly edged women from the job industry. Accessing this service was a total struggle for family women. The child care rates were also rated as high and this made that many women could not afford. The consequence to this was a reduced percentage of women who could access their jobs daily and even others assumed a conditioned resignation. As a result, well able women; especially single mothers who could thrive in job market were reduced to baby sitters simply because they could not afford (Fasang, 2011) the expensive and selectively designed child care policy. The social and economic significance and value of women in Western German was dealt a blow. Even if these women would access and afford the day care services, most of the centers would close half a day. It was such a menace for working mothers to return to work after giving birth. After all, who would leave an infant and choose to work in such uncertainty? It was even an unrealistic time for single mothers. Many ended up losing their psyche for jobs in favor of their babies while others could not afford the services due to the low paying jobs they had secured (Master Page). The Western Germany was a state that social status of women and their economic importance faced struggle in the four decades before reunification (Ruspin, 2002). On contrary, Fasang (2011) child provision in the Eastern side was in realistic operation. Research shows that they were not that cheap to afford for non-working. The addition of the operational hours; was of big boost to the working mothers. They had long hours which secured the working class women to attain the required eight hour of work in a single day. In this, the mothers could accrue sufficient money which by the end of the day reduced the bills of the baby care centers. Since the government had in its nerves to lift the economic ability and social status of women in this state, they assisted in meeting the bills o child care services. This made it cheaper or women for only food and changing diapers were the requirements for the working class to supply the babies with. It was lack of state support that the burden was so heavy to women of Western state. Even though these facilities had closed down after reunification, the social value of women and their families in the Eastern state was highly valued and recognized (Fasang, 2011). They had enjoyed these services, and seen their children rise through the ranks of; kinderkrippen (nurseries), kindergarten and finally in kinderhorte. In this respect, the social status of women was escalated. Marriage and family The policy of marriage and family was also (Fasang, 2011) another issue before reunification of these two states. For example, the Western state, having established a federal conservatism government, the place of women in family and marriage institution was also at stake. To be involved in marriage institution was a free choice. One had to build on a sustainable financial security before thinking of it (Ruspin, 2002). This was so restrictive especially to women whose age to marriage arrives earlier than that of men. It was an advantageous move to the government, but a dictatorial attempt to thwart a conjugal human right. Women were not free to give birth to their maximum ability as this was even restrained even after you lawfully marry. As this is not enough, there were reported cases of women being subjected to abortion (Fasang, 2011). The view of Western government towards women was so diminishing. Their value and social significance was not there in this society since to them (women) wanted more than just been mothers. Painfully such rules and regulations left many single and married women with no children to show their pride on. The living factor was that whatever women contributed to the society was of little impact. The case of East Germany was a practice of human liberty. The women were encouraged to marry. This continued though the rules o family control later got hold of East state and marriage declined a lot. Therefore, those that got babies while still working had no reason to worry since the government assisted in bringing the child up and job security was guaranteed (Fasang, 2011). The communist state of East Germany was aware of family value and this helped greatly into raising the social status of their women. Education Finally, education acquisition for women was another point of consideration before reunification. For example, the GDR, the state provided the same level of education, to women as that of male. This enabled women to compete for lucrative women careers (Ruspin, 2002). With time, the East side of Germany had recorded the highest rank in reference to women literacy in the world. The social status was in deed high and this involvement of females into working for the state not only improved the economy but also the value they are capable of serving in the society. For the FGR state, and after years of discriminative policies, the country was facing a reality of a society nurturing illiterate female gender. Women in Germany after reunification After forty years as a divide country, 1989 was the era of reunification (Hagenbuch, 2004). There was a wave of institutional change which had an impact on the female gender. This part discusses the view of transition in institutions, economic, and ideational perspective given to this new era of a reunified Germany. Family formation Family formation was an area, which clear and humane laws needed to be implemented. As though living in old era, the two states were not fully integrated in the approach given to family institution (Hagenbuch, 2004). The study of East Germany family line shows that the fall of the former communist regime led to a new change. The former traditional marriage mold that the women had embraced was replaced with a more free and formal ones. In contrary to this, the Western state women got it in much higher note than their counterparts. The family arrangement was more homogeneous than before. The era allowed exercise of conjugal rights (Fasang, 2011). This era did not amount to the same policy in marriage institution, but rather presented the East and West Germany family approaches as diverse as they were in the four decades they had separated. Labor market After reunification, the policy of labor market received some changes. With relatively high supply of child care though a bit higher in East; women, who still were working, were able to attend to their jobs. Researches have proved that labor market policies were not gender neutral in the East side (Fasang, 2011). Even though the figure allocated for women in labor force remains relatively at a worth level, there is still acute unemployment in women. The Eastern side has experienced reduction of working hours for women. This creates a contrast to when the state was before reunification. Also, for women in East, they have succumbed into a relatively lower wages than their male counter part. The once gender provision of the communist state is seemingly selective and not on women side. The West side women wage was (Hagenbuch, 2004) found to be much higher than that of the East. The policies of the state had fallen to the favor of the Western women. The only issue that has created a strike balance between the women of these two sides was the occupational area. In this, both sides of women were overtly kept apart. These kind of policies witnessed by the two sides holds back to legacy. The previous setting in which the two sides had migrated from could not have created anything close to sameness (Marcuse, 2008). Education In educational perspective, the country has matured from the old culture that viewed women life oscillating between children, kitchen and church, just like it was in Nazi Era (Fasang, 2011). The reunification came as an empowerment to surge women to pursue courses, which traditionally were viewed as masculine line of life. For example, in East side, the women who had trained in technical field could only access clerical or secretarial jobs. They could not advance to higher ranks. This was felt in both the women of East and those of the West. They only occupied the odd jobs with meager salaries until a law of discriminating women in job categorizes was enacted but still the quality of their salaries is questionable. They were now empowered not only to pursue high demanding positions in job market, but also engage themselves in high rated courses to lay their grounds for competition (Hagenbuch, 2004). Though for prominent women, who fought through the systems the hard way believe the stake offered to their counterpart is not enough, they continue challenging those women scholar to pursue fields which carry men dominance since the situations are bound to change one day. They still advocate for challenging social and economic statuses for women even though the country was in re-unification times. Conclusion In conclusion, reunification did little if any to standardize the social status of women in the country. They have served to be big losers even today (Hagenbuch, 2004). For the social radar of women to escalate, campaigns have been done to empower them to challenge for their rights, privileges in areas of employment, child care, and education. This is viewed as the only tool to topple the old ides and values. Raise in social standard is measured by your individual endeavors provided that the environment is enabling. References Hagenbuch, M. (2004). Women in unified Germany. Retrieved 7 May, 2012, from http://www.lehigh.edu/~incntr/publications/perspectives/v14/hagenbuch.pdf. Rosenfeid, R. et al (2001). Gender and work in Germany: Before and After Reunification. Retrieved 7 May, 2012, from http://web.gc.cuny.edu/liscenter/docs/ARS%202004.pdf. Fasang, E. (2011). Reunification of East and West German in1989. Retrieved 7 May, 2012, from http://www.yale.edu/ciqle/CIQLEPAPERS/CIQLEWP2012_1.pdf. Bredtmann, J. et al. (2009). Women's Fertility and Employment Decisions under Two Political Systems - Comparing East and West Germany before Reunification. Economic Papers. Retrieved on 7 May, 2012, on http://www.rwi-essen.de/publikationen/ruhr-economic-papers/79/. May, J. (2012). World Population Policies: Their Origin, Evolution, and Impact. New York: Springer. Ruspn, E., and Dale, E. (2002). The Gender Dimension of Social Change: The Contribution of Dynamic Research to the Study of Women's Life Courses. Bristol: The Policy Press. Ritter, G. and Deveson, R. (2011). The Price of German Unity: Reunification and the Crisis of the Welfare State. London: Oxford University Press. Marcuse, H. (2008). Germany since 1945: From Post-Fascist to Progressive. Retrieved on 8 May 2012, from, http://www.history.ucsb.edu/faculty/marcuse/classes/133c/ Master Page. Foreign Women – Women of Europe. Retrieved on 8 May 2012, from, http://www.masterpage.com.pl/german_woman/ Read More