Why Do Lone Mothers Fare Worse than Lone Fathers? Lone Parenthood and Welfare Benefit Receipt in Germany
Autor/in:
Geisler, Esther; Kreyenfeld, Michaela
Quelle: Comparative Population Studies - Zeitschrift für Bevölkerungswissenschaft, 44 (2019) , S 61-84
Inhalt: This article uses data from the German microcensuses of 2007 and 2012 to examine gender differences in welfare reliance among lone parents. Binary logistic regression was employed as the method of analysis. We show that the risk of welfare benefit receipt is lower among lone fathers than lone mothers. We also find that these gender differences can be partially explained by the socio-economic characteristics of lone fathers; compared to lone mothers, lone fathers are, on average, better educated and more likely to be living with older children. Gender differences decreased over time among parents who have never married, but remained constant among divorced parents. We present a discussion of our findings in light of recent policy reforms, in particular the reform of the German Maintenance Law of 2008, which curbed the ability of a divorced parent to collect support from an ex-spouse.
Schlagwörter:Leistungsbezug; father; Sozialhilfeempfänger; sozioökonomische Faktoren; Federal Republic of Germany; Mutter; Unterhalt; labor force participation; labor market policy; poverty; single parent; social policy; Erwerbsbeteiligung; receipt of benefits; Alleinstehender; Armut; Arbeitsmarktpolitik; mother; allein erziehender Elternteil; socioeconomic factors; welfare recipient; gender-specific factors; support; single; Vater; Sozialpolitik; lone parents; German Microcensus (2007 and 2012)
Basic Income: The Potential for Gendered Empowerment?
Autor/in:
Duvander, Ann-Zofie; Koslowski, Alison
Quelle: Social Inclusion, 6 (2018) 4, S 8-15
Inhalt: Basic income is likely to gain momentum as the next social welfare trend to sweep over the world with ideas of how to improve the fairness and efficiency of distributing money. Other earlier movements with similar ambitions to transform societies, ranging across the political spectrum from socialism to neo-liberalism, have led to very different consequences for strata of citizens, but have in common that they have de-prioritised gender equality in favour of other interests. Advocates of basic income suggest that in addition to pragmatic gains, such as a more efficient state administration, primarily a basic income will empower citizens, leading to the potential for greater human flourishing. Our question is whether this empowerment will be gendered and if so, how? So far, the basic income debate addresses gender only in so far as it would raise the income of the poorest, of whom a larger proportion are women. However, it is less clear how it might contribute to a transformation of gendered behaviour, making possible divergent shapes of life where binary and set notions of gender are not a restriction. We discuss the idea of basic income from a perspective of gender equality in the Swedish context.
Teilzeiterwerbstätigkeit während des Bezugs von Elterngeld
Titelübersetzung:Part-time employment while receiving parental leave benefits
Autor/in:
Schreyer, Jessica
Quelle: Zeitschrift für Familienforschung, 27 (2015) 1, S 53-77
Inhalt: "Im vorliegenden Beitrag wird auf Basis der Daten der ifb-Berufsrückkehrstudie untersucht, welche Mütter noch während des Bezugs von Elterngeld eine Teilzeiterwerbstätigkeit aufnehmen und was ihre Gründe hierfür sind. Hypothesen hierzu beziehen sich auf die Vermeidung negativer Konsequenzen für die berufliche Entwicklung und thematisieren das Streben nach Vereinbarkeit von Beruf und Familie. Ein früher Wiedereinstieg ist signifikant häufiger mit der Rückkehr auf den alten Arbeitsplatz beim vorherigen Arbeitgeber verbunden und ist vor allem hinsichtlich der Vermeidung beruflicher Nachteile durch eine Erwerbsunterbrechung von Bedeutung. Außerdem arbeiten Selbstständige nach der Geburt ihres Kindes signifikant häufiger im Rahmen einer Teilzeiterwerbstätigkeit noch während des Elterngeldbezugs. Zum einen erfordert der im Vergleich zu Beschäftigten weniger abgesicherte Erwerbsstatus eine schnelle Wiederaufnahme der Erwerbstätigkeit. Zum anderen ermöglichen flexiblere Arbeitszeiten, häufig in reduziertem Umfang, die Vereinbarkeit beruflicher und familialer Anforderungen. In den Daten lassen sich Hinweise für die Opportunitätskostenhypothese, die Bedeutung beruflicher Zwänge sowie für die Hypothese zur Vereinbarkeit von Beruf und Familie finden. Die Gründe für eine Teilzeiterwerbstätigkeit während des Bezugs von Elterngeld sind demnach vielschichtig." (Autorenreferat)
Inhalt: "Based on data collected in the 'ifb-Berufsrückkehrstudie', I examine what characteristics mothers have that take on part-time work while still receiving parental leave benefits as well as their reasons for doing so. Hypotheses for explaining this behavior refer to the avoidance of negative consequences for mothers' careers and their aspirations for reconciling work and family. An early return to work is significantly more often interconnected with the reappointment to the previous workplace which, in turn, is meaningful for the avoidance of negative consequences for their careers. Moreover, self-employed women significantly more often resume part-time work after child birth during the period of the provision of parental leave benefits. On one hand, in comparison to employed women, self-employed women's employment is less secure and thus requires an early return to work. On the other hand, the former's flexible work schedule and the often reduced work hours allow them to reconcile work and family tasks. The data hint to evidence for the opportunity cost hypothesis, for the importance of professional constraints and also for the family-work reconciliation hypothesis. In sum, the reasons of part-time employment while receiving parental leave benefits are multifaceted." (author's abstract)
Schlagwörter:Leistungsbezug; receipt of benefits; Elterngeld; family allowance; Mutterschaftsurlaub; maternity leave; Teilzeitarbeit; part-time work; berufliche Reintegration; occupational reintegration; Familie-Beruf; work-family balance; Erwerbsverlauf; employment history; gender-specific factors; Erwerbsverhalten; employment behavior; Arbeitszeit; working hours; Federal Republic of Germany