Main Content

Mothers’ Employment – A Learning Device?

Abstract

Germany has a large number of family policy measures. Whether these measures enhance or hinder the labor market participation of mothers has been subject of the academic as well as the political discussion. In our paper we highlight yet another aspect of the institutional context in which participation decisions are made: societal attitudes toward the reconciliation of parenthood (in particular motherhood) and gainful employment are highly influential for the employment possibilities and preferences of women. We present a theoretical frame that associates these attitudes and participation decisions and we illustrate empirically how attitudes have developed in the recent history of the German separation and reunification.