Inhalt: "For East German women working formed (and still forms) an important part of their
lives. Strong orientation towards employment during the DDR period was not only the
result of direction by the state or economic constraints but also met individuals'
needs. Based on an extensive system of whole-day child care the situation was characterised
by high activity rate, a relatively low proportion of part-time employment and a high
level of qualification. From the beginning of the 1970s the number of female and male
students in higher education was the same. A wide range of measures taken in order
to promote women reduced discrimination against them but did not eliminate it. The
higher educational system was a classic example of a sex-specific qualificational
and occupational pyramid. However the majority felt that women and men in the DDR
had enjoyed equality. After the Wall came down female scientists looked forward to
the future, whose risks they saw as being outweighed by the opportunities. They attached
little importance to gender-equality issues. Equal rights were taken for granted.
The renewal of East German higher education system was essentially an adaptation to
the West German system. This process led to numerous farreaching and lasting changes
concerning especially number of posts, working conditions, structure of scientific
staff, system of postgraduate qualification and pattern of an academic career. Male
and female academics have been affected in very different ways, although this was
not explicitly reflected in policy or recognised as being an important factor when
making decisions. There began an exclusion process that often worked to women's disadvantage.
Under the new conditions women find it more difficult to achieve their career objectives
in the academic world. They are faced with a revival of gender stereotypes. 10 years
after it must be concluded that - from a gender-equality perspective - renewal seems
to have done little to alter the traditional male dominance in this field." (author's
abstract)|
Schlagwörter:Wissenschaftlerin; Ostdeutschland; DDR; Berufsverlauf; Gleichstellung
CEWS Kategorie:Gleichstellungspolitik, Hochschulen
Dokumenttyp:Zeitschriftenaufsatz