Particle.news
Download on the App Store

German Study Finds Sharp Gender Gap in Economic Independence as Government Pledges Childcare Expansion

Officials link childcare bottlenecks to part‑time work patterns that increase dependence, heightening vulnerability to partner violence.

Overview

  • Only 28% of women with children under six consider themselves economically independent, and 61% in this group report dependence on a partner.
  • Across all respondents, 46% feel very economically independent, with women at 43% versus 46% for men.
  • The study finds women in near‑full‑time or full‑time jobs feel as independent as men, pointing to employment intensity as the main driver of the gap.
  • Twenty‑two percent of parents say they would work more but cannot due to missing childcare, and 28% of part‑time women want to increase hours.
  • Families Minister Karin Prien calls economic equality a constitutional mandate and plans new, expanded, renovated and modernized crèches, day‑care and all‑day care, as BKA data show partnership‑violence cases up roughly 18% over five years with women disproportionately affected.