Women's role in the context of coping with everyday life: Challenges for public and privacy. The German situation

The purpose of this paper is to describe the situation of everyday life of women and men in Germany and gender related aspects. Therefore social demographical data, presented by the Office for European Statistics, Luxembourg and by German statistical data, are used. Based on this data the different roles, responsibilities, and social positions of women and men are interpreted in the context of the idea of mainstreaming gender. In comparison to other European countries, especially to the Scandinavian countries, the situation of women in Germany still has to be improved. It is a prevalent problem for women to arrange family life and working career, because the gender-related role-allocationis still an issue. Women, who are involved in looking after children, are significantly less engaged in business life, as for men caring does not make a difference, whether they are employed or not. In addition to this fact women on average earn less than men, especially for women working in higher positions. To improve the situation of women and men the German government has initiated a 'Gender Mainstreaming Policy' in 2000 and has taken important legal measures which make it possible to reconcile family-life and gainful employment. For Home Economists there is a need to integrate the gender dimension into a household analytical approach.