KQ3: Social Change and Welfare Programmes

Question 1

How did the social welfare budget change over time?

Answer 1

It increased from 12.7% of GDP in 1970 to 16.8% in 1979.

Question 2

What were the 6 different aspects of welfare?

Answer 2

1. Housing/ rent / New Cities 2. Healthcare 3. Education 4. Pensions 5. Minimum Wage 6. Mothers + Children Support

Question 3

What was the social contract.

Answer 3

The idea that the government would provide generous social welfare in return for loyalty to the regime.

Question 4

Housing.

Answer 4

Housing was a big problem in the GDR. There was not enough of it (multiple families would be sharing apartments) and the quality was very poor and far behind the West.

Question 5

Housing- How long was the waiting list for repairs by to accommodation by 1989?

Answer 5

Waiting list of 800,000 requests for repairs to accommodation by 1989.

Question 6

Housing- How much urban housing was destroyed or severely damaged during WW2?

Answer 6

2/3

Question 7

Housing- What was Ulbricbht’s policy on housing?

Answer 7

To try and renovate/ repair existing housing.

Question 8

Housing- What was Honecker’s policy on housing?

Answer 8

To build housing on a mass scale. Entirely new cities were built near industrial locations such as Guben, in which 80% of residents worked on the local chemical plant. Although these estates had access to their own facilities/jobs the quality of housing was very poor and there was a much higher crime rate. Overall, Honecker’s housing policy was popular.

Question 9

Housing- How many homes were built between 1971 and 1990.

Answer 9

1.8 million homes built between 1971 and 1990.

Question 10

Housing- What percentage of people living in newer housing said they were satisfied?

Answer 10

76% of people who lived in newer housing said they were satisfied. This shows overall, people were quite happy with their housing.

Question 11

Healthcare- How was the health service funded?

Answer 11

Largely funded through a system of National Insurance, where employees contributed 10% of their income. However, at the end of the day, the GDR did not have the resources or funding for its health service. There were often shortages in basic equipment such as rubber gloves, syringes and drugs.

Question 12

Healthcare- Was healthcare equal?

Answer 12

It was a well known fact that healthcare was not equal. Political elite/ scientists got better healthcare.

Question 13

Healthcare- Attitudes to wider well being (e.g. mental health)

Answer 13

Reluctance to address issues such as mental health, alcoholism, suicide and domestic violence. Also reluctant to take responsibility for poor working condition in industry causing severe respiratory problems such as bronchitis.

Question 14

Healthcare- States attitude to health

Answer 14

• emphasis on prevention of illness rather than clinical medicine -huge celebratory campaigns after the GDR had a lower infant mortality rate than the FRG in 1959, even though it rose again the year after, and the number of hospital beds had been cut

Question 15

Minimum wage- When was the minimum wage raised?

Answer 15

1979= 350 to 400 Ostmarks per month

Question 16

Minimum wage- Why did the government raise the minimum wage?

Answer 16

They thought it would increase labour productivity but it didn’t.

Question 17

Pensions- How was Ulbricbht and Honecker’s policy on pensions different.

Answer 17

Ulbricht- pensions were comparatively neglected Honecker- pensions increased by 20% between 1971 and 1972. However for most people (apart from civil servants) they only got 33% of their salary, so the retirement age was high.

Question 18

Education.

Answer 18

Education focussed heavily on vocational/ military training and strong political indoctrination to create good workers and loyal citizens.

Question 19

Education- Opportunities for adult education

Answer 19

Endless and free training opportunities for adults.

Question 20

Education- Skilled workers to work opportunities statistic

Answer 20

70% of workers were skilled, but only suitable opportunities for 55% of them

Question 21

Education- military training

Answer 21

Compulsory military training for kids aged 13-15 once a week. Kindergarten students would watch demonstrations of new military equipment.

Question 22

Education- Describe the education system as of 1959

Answer 22

6-16, each child completed the basic unit of secondary education and in the final 2 years they either went to academic or vocational Extended Upper Schools.

Question 23

Education- Special schools

Answer 23

Students who were particularly gifted at sport, mathematics or languages would go to special schools with more funding.

Question 24

Women- Social welfare

Answer 24

1. birth allowance 2. 1 year of maternity leave 3. extensive kindergarten care provided

Question 25

When was 1 year maternity leave for mothers introduced/

Answer 25

1976

Question 26

Women- Education and employment

Answer 26

1. equal pay and equal rights in the workplace under the constitution 2. 80% of women had jobs by 1984 3. By 1984, 50% of university students were female

Question 27

What percentage of women had jobs by 1984?

Answer 27

80%

Question 28

By which year were 50% of students female?

Answer 28

1984

Question 29

Women- What evidence is there that there was a ‘glass ceiling’ for women?

Answer 29

1. Lacking from management positions 2. Lacking from senior jobs in the political sphere

Question 30

Women- Relationships

Answer 30

1. Free conversation and advice on birth control 2. Single mothers were commonplace 3. High divorce rate 4. Homosexuality decriminalised but discrimination was still commonplace.

Question 31

What percentage of children were born to single mothers in 1989?

Answer 31

33%

Question 32

In 1989, what percentage of divorces were initiated by women?

Answer 32

69%

Question 33

When was abortion made legal?

Answer 33

1972

Question 34

When was homosexuality decriminalised?

Answer 34

1968`

Question 35

Women- What was the role of women according to the SED?

Answer 35

The role of women was in in the home, raising a family. - demonstrated by the fact they got a day off to do domestic chores once a month. However they were expected to work as well which resulted in women having to do the ‘double shift’. Domestic chores were not shared equally.