FRG Life

Question 1

How did women’s lives improve from 1949-1989?

Answer 1

•Basic Law of 1949 declares men and women equal
•1950 marriage laws rewritten
-1955 Equal Pay Act
•Abortion was legalised 1976
•1977 equal rights in marriage women can file for divorce without permission
•Women has better access to higher education
•Female employment reached 50% by 1970

Question 2

How didn’t women’s lives improve from 1949-1989?

Answer 2

• Employment remained based on the male breadwinner and immigrants made female workers less needed
• In 1972 only 6% of Bundestag members were women
• Poorly represented in high status occupations like judges or university professors

Question 3

Who were guest workers and when did they come to the FRG?

Answer 3

In 1955 FRG made a deal to bring 100,000 Italian workers brought over. There was no intention to give them citizen rights, they were put to coal and steel work. This enabled Germans to move into more white collar work. More from other countries continued to come over in the 60’s and 70’s

Question 4

What were negative aspects involved around guest workers?

Answer 4

• In 1960 almost 90% of them were on minimum wage
• 1973 oil crisis banned further recruitment from abroad
• Report in the 1980’s said they were living in unhygienic conditions and most Turkish wives were illiterate and barely left the home

Question 5

How were the lives of guest workers improved?

Answer 5

• In 1964 DM50 million were given to guest workers families

* By 1972 the Government were encouraging guest workers to come to live and stay in Germany

Question 6

What education problems did the FRG face from 1945-1949?

Answer 6

• Shortages of teachers
• Lack of textbooks that didn’t involve Nazi ideas
• Difficult to introduce liberal values

Question 7

How did the FRG solve their education problems from 1945-1949?

Answer 7

•Recalled retired teachers and brought back fired ones during the Nazi era
•Teachers dent from France and USA invested $103 million
•Bundeslander agreed on compulsory civic education in 1950
•Old books that were hidden or banned were brought back
-Federal Education Promotion Act 1971

Question 8

What were the main cultural changes in the first decade after the war?

Answer 8

• Nazi literature was purged
• Rehabilitation for artists who were condemned
• Freedom of the press
• Western influence (democratic)
• Wanted a peaceful society (anti-nuclear)

Question 9

When was the Guest Worker deal made with Turkey?

Answer 9

1961

Question 10

When was the National Office for Women’s Affairs created?

Answer 10

1980