9 Das Beanspruchungserleben der Familienernährerinnen

Female-Breadwinner Families in Germany: New Gender Roles?

“…Concerning employment patterns of this group, the constellation of a female full-time and male part-time worker is dominant in female-breadwinner households in Western Germany, whereas it has been and still is more common in Eastern Germany for both partners to work full-time. As opposed to the situation in Eastern Germany, male unemployment is rarely the reason for a female breadwinner role in the West (Klammer et al, 2012). Given the gender pay gap referred to above, it is not surprising that female breadwinners—and here especially single parents—receive a markedly lower income than their male counterparts (Klammer et al, 2012), so that these families are often financially disadvantaged.…”

“…The proportion of female-breadwinner couples with children is much higher in Eastern Germany (23.9%) than in Western Germany (9.6%) 8 —a fact, which has partly been attributed to historically higher levels of female employment coupled with higher male unemployment rates since reunification in the East (Klammer, Neukirch, & Weßler-Poßberg, 2012). The proportion of breadwinning mothers rises with the age of the youngest child in the household (Klesment & Van Bavel, 2015).…”

“…The proportion of breadwinning mothers rises with the age of the youngest child in the household (Klesment & Van Bavel, 2015). Higher qualifications increase the probability of female breadwinning, although a considerable proportion of female breadwinners have mid-level professional qualifications (Klammer et al, 2012). Most female breadwinners residing in a two-adult household, are between 30 and 50 years of age, and thus in the “classic” family phase (Klammer et al, 2012).…”

“…Higher qualifications increase the probability of female breadwinning, although a considerable proportion of female breadwinners have mid-level professional qualifications (Klammer et al, 2012). Most female breadwinners residing in a two-adult household, are between 30 and 50 years of age, and thus in the “classic” family phase (Klammer et al, 2012). Concerning employment patterns of this group, the constellation of a female full-time and male part-time worker is dominant in female-breadwinner households in Western Germany, whereas it has been and still is more common in Eastern Germany for both partners to work full-time.…”

Stay-at-home fathers on the wane – In comes daddy day! Changing practices of fathering in German-speaking countries

“…Nevertheless, there is evidence from German research that SAHFs are indeed closely linked to labour market opportunities. Two recent studies by Klammer et al (2012) and Klenner et al (2012) analyse families in Germany in which mothers are the main earners. They conclude that these arrangements often do not result from choice but from necessity.…”