Result
71 per cent of Germans believe that men have a duty to take on more family responsibility and to better reconcile their career with their family. Three quarters of women agree with this statement, compared to two thirds of men. A comparison over time shows a significant increase, as only 43 per cent were of this opinion in 2011. The figures illustrate a clear social consensus: role models and responsibilities within the family need to evolve in order to better fulfil the demands and wishes of modern society. The result is not only an indicator of a changing perception of gender roles within society, but also a signal for political and economic decision-makers to create better structures and support systems.
Reasons
Many women juggle between work and family and experience a high level of stress as a result. On the other hand, men are also facing new challenges. The traditional role of sole carer is increasingly being questioned and many men want more active father roles. Another reason is the increasing recognition of the importance of a good balance between working and non-working hours. In an increasingly fast-paced world, both genders are looking for ways to harmonise work and family life. This search for balance and the desire for more family time together are strong drivers for the demand for a rethink in the distribution of family responsibilities.
In addition to the public's demand for a more balanced distribution of tasks, there are also economic arguments in favour of making greater use of women's potential in the world of work. Take education, for example: Women achieve better results than men in all school qualifications. The proportion of female school leavers recently stood at 54 per cent and more women than men are currently studying (in 1990, only 39 per cent of students were female). Women therefore have a better academic basis for demanding professions and should therefore play a leading role in the world of work.
Forecast
The future will undoubtedly be characterised by progressive equality. Positive developments can already be seen in the economy, but at the same time, equality must continue to be consistently promoted in the future. For example, the proportion of women in management positions has increased six-fold since 1991, from five to 29 per cent, but is still below the EU average of 35 per cent. In addition, the gender pay gap has improved over the last ten years, but there is still a pay gap of six per cent for the same position and qualifications. Women in Germany also currently have a labour force participation rate of 75 percent, one of the highest in Europe, but over two thirds of all mothers work part-time, while not even one in ten fathers do so. Companies will have to rethink accordingly and create better conditions to better utilise the potential of female employees, also in order to counter the shortage of skilled workers.
In the long term, this will lead to a society in which gender roles are no longer rigidly defined and both parents are equally able to fulfil their professional and family obligations (and desires).
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