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A woman sucks the dust: especially when the first child arrives, equality in relationships decreases
Photo:
Ute Grabowsky / photothek.net / imago images / photothek
The fact that women are worse off than men in Germany is nothing new.
This can be seen year after year from the gender pay gap, i.e. the average income difference between women and men: in 2019 it was 21 percent in Germany.
There is also a glaring disparity in unpaid care work: women spend 87 minutes more every day on housework and care work than men.
A report by the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, which is available to SPIEGEL, highlights the existing grievances and shows possible solutions on how equality can be improved in the Federal Republic.
According to the report, the "economically active" - mostly men in heterosexual relationships - need to be supported in taking on more care work.
At the same time, "caregivers" - in heterosexual relationships mostly women - should be supported in spending more time in gainful employment.
Big differences between East and West
The ministry led by Franziska Giffey (SPD) shows in the report ways in which this could be achieved.
Accordingly, the wage tax class five is to be deleted and the splitting of spouses reformed.
In addition, the spouse's free insurance is to be limited in time.
Mini-jobs, in which many women are currently working, should be subject to social security contributions.
The report shows great differences between East and West.
In 2019, the gender pay gap in western Germany was a good 20 percent, whereas in eastern Germany it was only seven percent.
Similar patterns can be found in the pension gap (gender pension gap) and the distribution of unpaid care work (gender care gap).
In 2015, the pension gap between women and men was 53 percent in the west and 28 percent in the east.
According to data from 2012 and 2013, the gender care gap in the west was a good 57 percent and in the east around 37 percent.
The report explains the big differences with historical facts.
In West Germany the family breadwinner model was legally anchored, in East Germany the double earnings model.
In the 1960s, the additional income model developed in West Germany: women contributed to household income through part-time work.
"The additional earnings model is just a variation on the family breadwinner model," the report said.
The equality policy imbalance remains, however.
Additional earnings model has gained in importance in the East
Women in East Germany were better off with the double earnings model than women in West Germany.
After a divorce - unlike in the West - each person had to look after himself.
Nevertheless, women took on two thirds of the unpaid care work, men only one third.
According to the report, the additional income model has gained in importance in East Germany since the fall of the Wall.
Currently, the additional income model is often not wanted in families, but is still practiced, the report states.
A "hub" is starting a family: Before the birth of their first child, 71 percent of couples lived in the double earnings model.
After the birth of the first child, it is only about 15 percent.
When there were children, 55 percent of women continued to work part-time, 17 percent stopped working completely.
In eastern Germany, the double earnings model continues to dominate, even if more and more families are practicing the additional earnings model.
"In East Germany, in 27 percent of the couple families with underage children, both parents work more than 36 hours a week, in West Germany, however, only nine percent of the families," the report says.
"When it comes to family care work, that is, childcare, care, cooking and cleaning, it is far too often the women who are involved," said Federal Family Minister Franziska Giffey to SPIEGEL.
"The result is that 47 percent of women work part-time, earn less and fewer women rise to management positions," she said.
The wage gap will become the pension gap.
"That is why we need framework conditions that enable an equal partnership and a fair division of gainful employment and care work."
"When it comes to family care work, that is, child care, care, cooking and cleaning, then it is far too often the women’s turn."
Minister for Women Franziska Giffey
Giffey believes that society as a whole has a duty to enable women to participate equally.
"Only if partnership is widely accepted as a model of life and, for example, companies see compatibility and a family-friendly corporate culture as profitable for both sides, will we make further progress," she said.
During the corona crisis, it was observed that it was mostly women who managed life at home.
More men are needed to "take on such tasks".
The report mentions a specific possibility: According to this, the greatest effect on unpaid care work is when men, and especially fathers, reduce their working hours.
"Socially, it should be possible for both people in the couple to adjust their working hours so that they can split up the unpaid care work among themselves. Then there is a good chance of making a big step forward in terms of gender equality," the report concludes.
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