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A divergent convergence: welfare and gender in West and East German regions after the unification

Hwang, Gyu Seong 1

1한신대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

While gender arrangement of West Germany before the unification was characterized by a moderate division of labor, East German one was distinct by relative equality. After the unification developments of gender arrangements in East and West German regions have taken three phases. During the first period(1990~1997), whereas gendered division of labor in the West remained stable East German gender equality had faced a great tension. East German gender arrangement managed to have adapted to changed enviornments but, West German one was hit by socioeconomic crisis in the second period(1998~2005). In the third stage(2006~) gender arrangements in both regions have experienced qualitative change against economic revitalization. In the course of these developments gender arrangements of both regions have maintained differences although they seem to move toward a same direction owing to deficit of sustainability of Western model and that of feasibility of Eastern one respectively. Among others increasing female part-time employment has established additional breadwinner model(Zuverdinermodell) in West in contrast to the prevalence of dual breadwinner model in East. Secondly while Eastern part of Germany has marched to dual breadwinner model with external care defamilialization of child-care has proceeded moderately in West despite the common tendency toward increasing socialization of child-care to a remarkable degree. Third, East German women have better performance in economic independence than their Western sisters. But traditional idea about gender labor division regarding major role of women as house work and caring has diminished to a great degree in both regions making optimistic prospect for gender arrangement to advance toward dual breadwinner- dual (or institutional) care model.

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.

This paper was written with support from the National Research Foundation of Korea.