the role and status of women in the FRG Flashcards
LO: political life, women and employment/work, women and the family, the feminist movement
what did the Basic Law assert about women in the FRG?
it asserted women were equal, but gender issues negated this throughout the history of the FRG
what were some contentious gender issues in the FRG?
issues like abortion became contentious, and progress towards gender equality was slow
what demographic changes affected women’s political life in the FRG?
women made up a larger proportion of the electorate due to demographic changes over several decades
how much representation did women have in the Bundestag by 1987?
in 1972, women comprised only 5.8% of Bundestag reps, and by 1987, this increased to only 15.4%
why did women lack political outlets in the FRG?
the CDU/CSU favoured male-dominated business interests, and the SPD gained support from male-dominated workers’ trade unions
how did the Green Party impact women’s political involvement in the 1980s?
the Green Party provided more opportunities for women’s involvement, and feminists pressured the party to include abortion reform as a key political commitment
what did the Basic Law of 1949 state regarding gender equality?
it stated that men and women were equal, but the focus was primarily on male employment
how did the role of women change after WW2 in the FRG?
women’s war work was seen as temporary, and they were encouraged to relinquish their jobs as men returned, despite the assertion of equal rights in the constitution
what percentage of women were employed in 1950 and 1970 in West Germany?
in 1950, 44.4% of women were employed, and by 1970, this rose to 50%
what was the public view on mothers working outside the home in the 1960s?
a 1963 poll showed 59% of respondents supported a law banning mothers with children under 10 from working
how were women represented in managerial roles in the 1970s and 1980s?
women were a majority in caring professions but had very few managerial roles, such as less than 5% of university professors by the 1980s
what was the gender pay gap in the 1970s in Germany?
women earned on average 65-78% of men’s salaries
what was the result of the divorce rate increase between 1960 and 1990?
the divorce rate increased from 49,000 in 1960 to 123,000 by 1990, with new laws supportig no-fault divorce and alimony based on economic necessity
how did the SPD govt address abortion in the 1970s?
in 1971, the SPD introduced a law legalizing abortion within the first three months of pregnancy if a doctor gave permission, but it was later declared illegal by the Federal Constitutional Court
what was the feminist movement’s stance on abortion in the FRG?
feminists pushed for more liberal abortion laws, as they felt the existing laws were too restrictive compared to other Western countries
what did Betty Friedan criticize in the context of the FRG?
Betty Friedan criticised the lack of opportunities for women and the restrictive nature of family life, which resonated with many women in the FRG
what were the main goals of the feminist movement in the FRG?
it demanded full equality, focusing on issues like abortion, contraception, and the disconnection between gender equality in the Basic Law and the reality of women’s roles
how did the role of women evolve from 1918-89?
from 1918-45, women were seen as nurturing figures, with limited political and economic roles. In Weimar Germany, some women pushed boundaries (New Woman); in Nazi Germany, male domination was more pronounced.
In the FRG, significant improvements were made, such as the Rights Law of 1977 reasserting gender equality
how many women were school principles in 1970?
20%
