Women's Work Values in Unified Germany

Abstract

This article examines East-West differences in work values among German women, using data from the 1991 German Social Survey (ALLBUS). Our analyses indicate a clear regional gap in work values: East German women are more likely than West German women to consider employment to be very important and to highly value its socioeconomic and social rewards. We contend that this gap exists because of the effect of preunification differences in state ideology and policy on the life experiences of German women in the two regions. We discuss the implications of the findings for the claim that East Germany was more successful than West Germany in fostering positive attitudes toward market work among women.

The Employment of Mothers - Recent Developments and Their Determinants in East and West Germany

“…Some authors study norms and attitudes as potential determinants of employment differences of mothers in East and West Germany. Adler and Brayfield (1997) show that East German women assigned more importance to employment and that they were more likely to pursue a combination of motherhood and market career compared to West German mothers. Interestingly, Braun et al (1994) argue that conditional on a higher valuation of employment, which was imposed by the socialist state, East German females were no less traditionalist in their attitudes than West Germans.…”

The Employment of Mothers - Recent Developments and Their Determinants in East and West Germany

“…Some authors study norms and attitudes as potential determinants of employment differences of mothers in East and West Germany. Adler and Brayfield (1997) show that East German women assigned more importance to employment and that they were more likely to pursue a combination of motherhood and market career compared to West German mothers. Interestingly, Braun et al (1994) argue that conditional on a higher valuation of employment, which was imposed by the socialist state, East German females were no less traditionalist in their attitudes than West Germans.…”

Gender Norms under Socialism and Capitalism: A Historical Examination of Attitudes towards Maternal Employment in the German Democratic Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany

“…Since living up to gender norms in the GDR meant full-time employment for mothers, following identity formation theory (Bielby/Bielby 1989) one could expect that women in the GDR were strongly committed to both work and children. And in fact, studies show that shortly after reunifi cation and until recently, people in East Germany had high preferences for children and work, and did not prioritise one over the other (Braun et al 1994;Adler/Brayfi eld 1997;Arránz Becker et al 2010;Beblo/Görges 2018;Görges 2021). This is particularly true for the oldest cohorts, who had experienced the social policy of the GDR regime (Beblo/Görges 2018; Görges 2021).…”

“…Furthermore, theories about social policy being a normative anchor, about the consequences of exposure to work-related environments, as well as arguments on social multiplier effects arising from high maternal labour force participation (Pfau-Effi nger 2005; Kremer 2007; Gangl/Ziefl e 2015; Grunow/Veltkamp 2016), would have suggested a higher agreement with maternal full-time employment in the GDR. However, exposure to the double burden of paid and unpaid work that many mothers experienced, which was associated with time pressures and mental strain, may have promoted preferences for maternal non-employment(Adler/Brayfi eld 1997;Nickel 1998;Becker-Schmidt 2010;…”

Current and Historical Antecedents of Individual Value Differences Across 195 Regions in Europe

“…Moreover, the transition from Communist to non-Communist forms of government also occurred in a distinct, short period of time. Effects on values of Communism, including work-related values, have been mentioned in the literature, especially for former East and West Germany (e.g., Adler & Brayfield, 1997; Borg & Braun, 1996). A study of 13 Eastern and 9 Western European countries by Schwartz and Bardi (1997; see also Bardi & Schwartz, 1996) reveals differences in various value types, which they interpret as adaptations to Communist rule.…”

The Employment of Mothers - Recent Developments and Their Determinants in East and West Germany

“…Some authors study norms and attitudes as potential determinants of employment differences of mothers in East and West Germany. Adler and Brayfield (1997) show that East German women assigned more importance to employment and that they were more likely to pursue a combination of motherhood and market career compared to West German mothers. Interestingly, Braun et al (1994) argue that conditional on a higher valuation of employment, which was imposed by the socialist state, East German females were no less traditionalist in their attitudes than West Germans.…”

Gender Norms under Socialism and Capitalism: A Historical Examination of Attitudes towards Maternal Employment in the German Democratic Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany

“…Since living up to gender norms in the GDR meant full-time employment for mothers, following identity formation theory (Bielby/Bielby 1989) one could expect that women in the GDR were strongly committed to both work and children. And in fact, studies show that shortly after reunifi cation and until recently, people in East Germany had high preferences for children and work, and did not prioritise one over the other (Braun et al 1994;Adler/Brayfi eld 1997;Arránz Becker et al 2010;Beblo/Görges 2018;Görges 2021). This is particularly true for the oldest cohorts, who had experienced the social policy of the GDR regime (Beblo/Görges 2018; Görges 2021).…”

“…Furthermore, theories about social policy being a normative anchor, about the consequences of exposure to work-related environments, as well as arguments on social multiplier effects arising from high maternal labour force participation (Pfau-Effi nger 2005; Kremer 2007; Gangl/Ziefl e 2015; Grunow/Veltkamp 2016), would have suggested a higher agreement with maternal full-time employment in the GDR. However, exposure to the double burden of paid and unpaid work that many mothers experienced, which was associated with time pressures and mental strain, may have promoted preferences for maternal non-employment(Adler/Brayfi eld 1997;Nickel 1998;Becker-Schmidt 2010;…”

Current and Historical Antecedents of Individual Value Differences Across 195 Regions in Europe

“…Moreover, the transition from Communist to non-Communist forms of government also occurred in a distinct, short period of time. Effects on values of Communism, including work-related values, have been mentioned in the literature, especially for former East and West Germany (e.g., Adler & Brayfield, 1997; Borg & Braun, 1996). A study of 13 Eastern and 9 Western European countries by Schwartz and Bardi (1997; see also Bardi & Schwartz, 1996) reveals differences in various value types, which they interpret as adaptations to Communist rule.…”

The Employment of Mothers - Recent Developments and Their Determinants in East and West Germany

“…Some authors study norms and attitudes as potential determinants of employment differences of mothers in East and West Germany. Adler and Brayfield (1997) show that East German women assigned more importance to employment and that they were more likely to pursue a combination of motherhood and market career compared to West German mothers. Interestingly, Braun et al (1994) argue that conditional on a higher valuation of employment, which was imposed by the socialist state, East German females were no less traditionalist in their attitudes than West Germans.…”

Gender Norms under Socialism and Capitalism: A Historical Examination of Attitudes towards Maternal Employment in the German Democratic Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany

“…Since living up to gender norms in the GDR meant full-time employment for mothers, following identity formation theory (Bielby/Bielby 1989) one could expect that women in the GDR were strongly committed to both work and children. And in fact, studies show that shortly after reunifi cation and until recently, people in East Germany had high preferences for children and work, and did not prioritise one over the other (Braun et al 1994;Adler/Brayfi eld 1997;Arránz Becker et al 2010;Beblo/Görges 2018;Görges 2021). This is particularly true for the oldest cohorts, who had experienced the social policy of the GDR regime (Beblo/Görges 2018; Görges 2021).…”

“…Furthermore, theories about social policy being a normative anchor, about the consequences of exposure to work-related environments, as well as arguments on social multiplier effects arising from high maternal labour force participation (Pfau-Effi nger 2005; Kremer 2007; Gangl/Ziefl e 2015; Grunow/Veltkamp 2016), would have suggested a higher agreement with maternal full-time employment in the GDR. However, exposure to the double burden of paid and unpaid work that many mothers experienced, which was associated with time pressures and mental strain, may have promoted preferences for maternal non-employment(Adler/Brayfi eld 1997;Nickel 1998;Becker-Schmidt 2010;…”

Current and Historical Antecedents of Individual Value Differences Across 195 Regions in Europe

“…Moreover, the transition from Communist to non-Communist forms of government also occurred in a distinct, short period of time. Effects on values of Communism, including work-related values, have been mentioned in the literature, especially for former East and West Germany (e.g., Adler & Brayfield, 1997; Borg & Braun, 1996). A study of 13 Eastern and 9 Western European countries by Schwartz and Bardi (1997; see also Bardi & Schwartz, 1996) reveals differences in various value types, which they interpret as adaptations to Communist rule.…”