Diese Arbeit ist eine Forschungsarbeit über die Wirkungen der Integration ostdeutscher Frauen im wiedervereinigten Deutschland. Sie untersucht die Unterschiede der Erfahrungen von ostdeutschen und westdeutschen Frauen, und ob dies zu Unterschieden der feministischen Werte und Erwartungen geführt hat. Sie untersucht auch inwieweit ostdeutsche Frauen eine Änderung in ihrer gesellschaftlichen Position beobachtet haben, und insbesondere inwieweit sie sich zum Nachteil ausgewirkt hat. Sie stellt die Hypothese auf, daß die potentielle Unzufriedenheit mit dem neuen Status dazu führen könnte, daß ostdeutsche Frauen eine bedeutende Rolle in der Entwicklung der Frauenpolitik, insbesondere der Beschäftigungspolitik einnehmen werden. Die Feldstudie konzentriert sich von daher sowohl auf Anzeichen der Unzufriedenheit unter ostdeutschen Frauen als auch die politischen Ziele, Aktivitäten und der Einflußbereich von Frauengruppen.
Contents
1. Feminist ideology in East and West the potential for conflict
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Defining feminism and emancipation
1.3 Approaches to feminism in East and West
1.3.1 Marxist Feminism in the GDR
1.3.2 Conservatism, Liberal, Marxist and Radical Feminism in the Federal Republic
1.3.3 An evaluation of feminism in East and West
1.4 Feminist voices in East and West
1.4.1 East German disappointment and dissatisfaction
1.4.2 The western countervoice
1.4.3 The meeting of East and West
1.5 Conclusion
2. Public policy and the realities of female emancipation in the GDR
2.1 Introduction – opinion and reality
2.2 Public policy and equality legislation
2.3 Realities of emancipation in East and West
2.3.1 Emancipation in education
2.3.2 Female employment
2.3.3 Political representation
2.3.4 Personal relationships, family life and the ‘Doppelbelastung’
2.3.5 An evaluation of realities
2.4. Conclusion
3. East-German distinctiveness
3.1 Introduction
3.2 The influence of events since reunification on identity
3.3 The socialist legacy
3.3.1 Work as ‘selbstverständlich’ and emancipatory
3.3.2 East German women and the family
3.3.3 Awareness of ‘feminist’ issues
3.3.4 Attitudes towards the GDR and the Federal Republic
3.3.5 East German feminists
3.3.6 The younger generation
3.4 Conclusion
4. Dissatisfaction with the Federal Republic
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Dissatisfaction with the position of women in the Federal Republic
4.2.1 Dissatisfaction with female unemployment and access to work
4.2.2 Rejection of the choice between a career and children
4.2.3 Dissatisfaction with the changing role, status and image of women
4.2.4 Dissatisfaction with patriarchal structures and discrimination
4.2.5 Dissatisfaction with their relationship with west German women
4.3 General dissatisfaction with the Federal Republic
4.3.1 Dissatisfaction with the market economy/consumerism
4.3.2 Dissatisfaction with democracy
4.3.3 General legitimacy
4.4 Conclusion
5. Political activity and mobilisation
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Women’s groups in the GDR/Saxony Anhalt prior to unification
5.3 The rise and fall for the UFV
5.4 Women’s groups in Saxony Anhalt 10 years after unification
5.4.1 ‘Das Gleichstellungsamt’, Magdeburg
5.4.2 ‘Die Fraueninitiative’
5.4.3 ‚ROSA’ – ‚Arbeitsvermittlung für Frauen’
5.4.4 ‚Bürgerinitiative gegen das Kitagesetz’
5.4.5 ‚Arbeitsgemeinschaft Sozialistischer Frauen’
5.4.6. Communication Centres ‚Etgersleben’ and ‚Laura’, Staßfurt
5.4.7 Summary of case studies
5.5 Political activity and disempowerment
5.6 East German women’s achievements
5.7 Conclusion
Objectives & Research Focus
This work investigates the integration of East German women into the political, legal, and economic system of the Federal Republic following unification, examining how their prior socialisation and status as perceived "losers of unification" influence their identity, dissatisfaction, and political activity.
- Comparison of feminist ideologies in the GDR and the Federal Republic.
- Analysis of public policy and the reality of female emancipation in both states.
- Investigation of East German women's distinctive identity and the "socialist legacy."
- Exploration of levels and sources of dissatisfaction with the Federal Republic.
- Documentation of political activity, mobilization, and women's groups in the new states.
Book Excerpt
1.1 Introduction
The relatively monolithic nature of the east German state provided a significant opportunity for state-driven socialisation. Within this framework the SED’s interpretation of Marxist Feminism became the principal determinant of the ethical environment within which east German women were to shape their own belief and value systems regarding women’s issues and emancipation. Although the time frame of 40 years seems relatively short in socialisation terms it remains probable that the strong influence socialist ideology had on east German women’s lives in the GDR was transferred in some way to their values and opinions. It is, therefore, also probable that their views are likely to differ from those of west German women who did not experience the same ideological environment.
This chapter examines key features of feminist ideology in the Federal Republic and the GDR, focusing on the essential tenets of Marxist Feminism and the dominant feminist movements in the West in order to highlight areas of potential difference between the feminist environments in the two states. It then measures these against the voices of east and west German women in academic publications since reunification with a view to highlighting areas where opinion and values differ. Where difference is established, potential links to the socialising influences in each state will be assessed. This approach enables east German women to be viewed from a variety of angles. Firstly, they are perceived pre-unification, through the lens of their socialisation as women in the distinctive environment of the GDR, and secondly post-unification, as they appear in current publications via their own views of themselves and their experiences and thirdly, through the eyes of western writers.
Summary of Chapters
Chapter 1: This chapter establishes a foundation for understanding the unique status of East German women by comparing feminist ideologies in the GDR and the Federal Republic.
Chapter 2: This chapter examines the feminist environment in each state, comparing government policy and legislation with the actual realities of women's everyday lives.
Chapter 3: This chapter explores the existence of a unique identity among East German women, focusing on the connection between current attitudes and the socialist legacy.
Chapter 4: This chapter investigates the current levels of dissatisfaction East German women feel toward their situation in the Federal Republic.
Chapter 5: This chapter explores the link between dissatisfaction and political mobilization, analyzing women's groups in Saxony Anhalt and their political achievements.
Key Words
German Unification, East German women, Marxist Feminism, Gender Equality, Socialisation, Emancipation, Employment, Dissatisfaction, Identity, Socialist Legacy, Political Mobilisation, Women's groups, GDR, Federal Republic, Doppelbelastung.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this research?
The book focuses on the integration of East German women into the political, legal, and economic system of the Federal Republic of Germany after 1990 and explores how their experience in the GDR shapes their current identity and political behavior.
What are the primary thematic fields?
The central themes include feminist ideology, public policy regarding equality, the impact of the socialist legacy on identity, sources of dissatisfaction with the new system, and the nature of political mobilization among women in the new states.
What is the main research objective?
The goal is to determine whether East German women constitute a unique social group with distinct values, to identify the sources of their dissatisfaction, and to assess whether this dissatisfaction leads to political organization.
Which methodology is applied?
The work combines a review of academic literature and post-unification publications with an analysis of empirical data gathered from over 80 oral history interviews with women in Saxony Anhalt.
What is covered in the main body of the work?
The book details the comparative feminist environments, the realities of emancipation in both states, the formation of a distinct East German identity, the various sources of dissatisfaction with the Federal Republic, and case studies of women's political groups.
Which keywords define this study?
Key terms include German Unification, East German women, Marxist Feminism, Gender Equality, Socialist Legacy, Identity, and Political Mobilisation.
How does the author define the "Doppelbelastung"?
The author discusses the "dual burden" of family and employment in the GDR and how, although it was a heavy workload, it was rendered more manageable by state support and became an essential component of East German women's lives.
What is the "western countervoice"?
The "western countervoice" refers to the tendency of western feminist authors to deny the basis of East German women's disappointment, often questioning their feminist awareness and viewing their GDR experience as mere manipulation rather than genuine achievement.
What is the significance of the UFV?
The "Unabhängiger Frauenverband" (UFV) represents a critical moment in the transition period, demonstrating the strong feminist political will and organizing capacity of East German women during the peaceful revolution.
- Quote paper
- Debbie Wagener (Author), 2002, Identity, Dissatisfaction and Political Activity - The Experience of East German women since Unification, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/93702
