East Germany

The Constitution guarantees equality of the sexes. Women are afforded equal rights before the law and "in all spheres of social, state and personal life." The East German record in the area of women's rights has been good. Women have been well represented in the work force, comprising about half of the economically active population. As of 1984, roughly 80 percent of women of working age (between 18 and 60) were employed. The state has encouraged women to seek work and pursue careers and has provided aid to working mothers in the form of day care centers and generous maternity benefits. The state also has made a concerted effort to provide educational opportunities for women. The number of women having a university or technical school education has increased over the years. Of the students enrolled in universities and colleges in 1985, about 50 percent were women, and most of these were involved in direct study (as opposed to extension and evening study). This figure represented an increase from 25 percent in 1960 and 35 percent in 1970. Female enrollments in technical schools also rose. In 1960 women accounted for 29 percent of the student body, by 1970 their proportion had grown to 49 percent, and in 1985 they represented about 73 percent of all enrollees. Special courses were designed for women who already held jobs but wished to increase their level of skills, and state enterprises offered programs that provided women leave time and pay up to 80 percent of their wages so they might pursue further education. In the mid-1980s, women were less well represented in positions of political power. In 1984 about one-third of the deputies to the People's Chamber were women. However, in December 1984, only 19 of the 153 SED Central Committee members were women. In early 1987, there were only two women among the 27 full and candidate members of the Politburo.

Excerpt from Data as of July 1987. Excerpt from The Library of Congress Country Studies.


Comparison of socio-economic conditions of East and West German women:

Women (15 - 60) in the labor force in 1988:

• East Germany 78.1%
• West Germany 55%

Female unemployment in 1988:

• East Germany 0%
• West Germany 12.3%

Male/Female differentials for wage workers in 1987:

• East Germany 83.2%
• West Germany 70%

Birth rate in 1987:

• East Germany: 12.0/1.000
• West Germany 10.5/1000

Maternity leave prior to 1989:

East Germany:

Women were given six weeks of leave before the birth and 20 weeks afterward, during which the mother received a social insurance payment equal to her average monthly net earnings, followed by paid parental leave (for which a spouse or grandmother was also eligible) at 70-90 percent of average net pay until the child reached one year of age.

All new mothers received 1.000M per child, issued in seven installments by pre-and postnatal clinics.

All parents also received monthly state child support payments depending on the number of children (250 for one child, 300 for two, 350 for three) until the child completed the 10th grade regardless of family income level.

West Germany:

Mothers receive six weeks of maternity leave before and eight weeks after birth at average net pay.

Since 1990, a woman has been able to take child care leave (which can be shared with her spouse) until the child reaches 18 months at a flat payment of 600 DM per child. All new mothers receive 100 DM per child birth. All other forms of support are subject to means testing, which includes examination of the income and assets of all first-degree relatives (parents, siblings, children).

Day care prior to 1989:

East Germany:

Day care was universally available through a broad network of state- and factory-supported day care centers, kindergartens, after-school child care and school lunch programs. As of 1989, 80.2 percent of children aged one to three were in day care, 89.1 percent aged six to 10 were in after-school care. Spaces were available free of charge.

West Germany:

Only 3 percent of children under the age of three were in public day care and 62,3 percent of children between three and six were in kindergartens.

Care of sick children prior to 1989:

East Germany:

Forty days per child per year in paid time off from work to care for sick children up to the age of 14. Women received one paid day off per month for housework.

West Germany:

West German parents may take a flat five paid days per year to care for sick children up to age eight.