Social change - Women

What did the 1949 constitution say for women?

‘men and women are equal before the law…Women are entitled to the same wages as men for the same work’

What was female emancipation seen as?

An essential feature of socialist ideology and of establishing a socialist society.

What measures were introduced in 1950s and 1960s?

Measures were introduced to help women and families.

What did the state provide for mothers?

Provided financial support for working mothers, childcare and improved healthcare.

What did pregnant and nursing mothers enjoy?

Enjoyed additional rations before 1958 and child benefit payments were introduced.

What was education like for women by 1980?

Nearly half students in higher education were women.

However, what was the case for the first 20 years of the GDR?

Real advantages were not so clear-cut because of the legacy from the war.

What did the shortage of working men mean for women?

It was necessary to increase female labour, adding to the hardship of many women.

What happened for women in 1947?

The Soviet zone repealed pensions of hundreds of thousands of widows, forcing women to look for jobs to support themselves.

What were many of the refugees leaving to head West?

Many were younger people with families, leaving many elderly women to fend for themselves.

What happened despite the propaganda image of women enjoying work?

Portrayed as being free from domestic chores, but the reality was very different.

What sort of jobs were many mothers in?

Unskilled, low-paid jobs while still taking responsibility for looking after children and the household.

What was the case for abortion?

Was strictly limited until 1972.

What happened during the 1950s?

The % of female students increased quite slowly - 20.4% in 1953 to 25.4% in 1961.