3 ms·
I always find the comparison between the former West and East Germany super interesting. Great randomized trial where you take the same group of people, expose
by grumpy-de-sre 1y ago
I always find the comparison between the former West and East Germany super interesting. Great randomized trial where you take the same group of people, expose them to different conditions and can easily measure the results.
East Germany was also interesting in that it wasn't some patriarchal, ultra conservative society.
GDR = German Democratic Republic (East Germany), FRG = Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany), Numbers indicate total fertility rate (TFR).
1950s–60s | GDR: 2.3 | FRG: 2.4 | Similar postwar boom
1970s | GDR: decline to 1.5 by mid-70s, then rise to 1.85 | FRG: 1.55 | East introduced pro-natalist policies (childcare, housing, maternity leave)
1980s | GDR: 1.85 | FRG: 1.35 | East stabilized; West kept declining
1990s (post-reunification) | GDR: 0.8 | FRG: 1.3 | Economic/social upheaval hit East hard
2000s–present | GDR: gradual recovery | FRG: slight rise | Gap narrows but regional differences linger
- grumpy-de-sre 1y agoIdeology: GDR: Socialist, collective responsibility for families | FRG: Conservative, traditional nuclear family model Women's Role: GDR: Encouraged to work and have children | FRG: Expected to choose between work and motherhood Maternity Leave: GDR: Up to 26 weeks paid leave + 1-year partially paid "baby year" (from 1976) | FRG: Shorter leave (14 weeks), limited benefits and job protection Childcare Availability: GDR: Universal, heavily subsidized childcare from 3 months old | FRG: Scarce childcare, especially for kids under 3; long waiting lists Financial Support: GDR: Birth grants, scaled child allowances, housing priority for families | FRG: Modest child benefits (Kindergeld), no housing incentives Career Impact: GDR: Mothers retained jobs and career paths with little penalty | FRG: Mothers faced career setbacks; part-time work common Contraception & Abortion: GDR: Free contraception; abortion legalized in 1972 | FRG: More restrictive laws; abortion controversial Cultural Messaging: GDR: Motherhood seen as patriotic duty; state actively promoted it | FRG: Emphasis on family values, but less direct messaging on fertility
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- bruckie 1y agoWhat do the numbers indicate? Birth rate per capita? And are the arrows expressing ranges, or expressing changes from the beginning to the end of the decades? (Or maybe those are equivalent in this case?) Also, for those who don't remember the official names: GDR = German Democratic Republic = East Germany FRG = Federal Republic of Germany = West Germany
- deleted 1y ago[deleted]