BERLIN — Similar to many young women from communist East Germany, Solveig Leo seamlessly balanced her responsibilities as a mother with her professional commitments. As a mother of two, she successfully managed a sizable state-run farm in the northeastern village of Banzkow, largely due to the widespread availability of childcare services.
In stark contrast stands Claudia Huth, a mother of five who spent her formative years in capitalist West Germany. Huth made the decision to leave her position as a bank clerk upon becoming pregnant with her first child. Consequently, she embraced the role of a traditional housewife in Egelsbach, Hesse, dedicating her time to raising her children and supporting her husband, who worked as a chemist.
Both Leo and Huth exemplify the differing societal roles for women shaped by the distinct political landscapes of East and West Germany, which were divided for decades following Germany’s defeat in WWII.
As Germany prepares to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Berlin Wall’s fall on November 9, 1989, along with the nation’s reunification less than a year later on October 3, 1990, many are contemplating the profound shifts in women’s lives. Despite the marked differences during the years of separation, women’s experiences have become more aligned, although some disparities still exist today.
“In West Germany, numerous women had to advocate for their right to pursue a career,” remarked Clara Marz, who is curating an exhibition dedicated to women in a divided Germany for the Federal Foundation for the Study of the Communist Dictatorship in Germany. In contrast, according to Marz, working women in East Germany typically had jobs due to mandates imposed by the regime rather than personal choice.
The Berlin Wall, erected in 1961 and standing for 28 years, was more than a physical barrier; it symbolized the Cold War’s ideological divide between the US and the Soviet Union. Its construction aimed to prevent East Germans from being influenced by Western ideas and to stop the mass exodus of citizens from East Germany.
Today, only remnants of the 156.4-kilometer (97.2-mile) barrier remain, primarily as historical sites for tourists. Reflecting on her past, Leo, now 81, shared insights about life under communism. “All the major industries were in the West, while we had none here,” she noted. “East Germany was obligated to pay war reparations to the Soviet Union, which required women to work hard to overcome that adversity.”
In contrast, Leo observed that women in the West did not feel compelled to work due to the benefits of the Marshall Plan—a substantial US initiative that infused capital into the reconstruction of West Germany and other European nations after the war.
The rapid economic recovery in capitalist West Germany sparked talk of a “Wirtschaftswunder,” or “economic miracle,” allowing stability and prosperity to return within a mere decade following the war. However, this boon had an unintended impact on women’s rights. Most West German women remained homemakers, taking on household responsibilities while their husbands provided for the family. Additionally, religious influences were much more pronounced than in the more secular East, reinforcing women’s roles as primary caregivers.
Women trying to break these traditional molds often faced stigma, being labeled as Rabenmütter, or neglectful mothers who prioritized their careers over family. However, not all women in West Germany viewed their conventional roles as confining. Huth, now 69, expressed her contentment with her choices, stating, “I always wanted to be with my children because I cherished that time with them. I never seriously entertained the thought of returning to work.”
More than thirty years after the nation reunited, a new generation of women seems largely unaware of the stark differences that shaped the experiences of their mothers and grandmothers based on their geography. For many, the norm has become a blend of career and motherhood.
Hannah Fiedler, an 18-year-old high school graduate from Berlin, stated that her family’s history of living in East Germany has no bearing on her life today. “The distinction between East and West isn’t even a topic in our family anymore,” she remarked while sitting on a bench in Mitte, an area that formerly marked the Berlin Wall’s path.
Fiedler also mentioned that she has not perceived any disadvantages tied to her gender. “I’m white and privileged—whether that’s good or bad—I expect no issues as I enter the workforce in the future,” she noted.
Nevertheless, slight differences still persist between the two former regions. As per a 2023 study by the Hans-Böckler-Stiftung foundation, 74% of women in the East are in the workforce, compared to 71.5% in the West. Additionally, access to childcare remains more prevalent in the East. In 2018, approximately 57% of children under three in Saxony were enrolled in childcare facilities, contrasted with only 27% in North Rhine-Westphalia and 44% in Hamburg and Bremen, as reported by Germany’s Federal Statistical Office.
Overall, Germany lags behind other European nations regarding gender equality, with only 31.4% of parliamentary seats held by women, compared to higher percentages in Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Despite these challenges, Leo remains hopeful that women throughout the nation will ultimately have equal opportunities. “I can’t envision a scenario where there are women who do not desire independence,” she said.
