KQ3: Social Change and Welfare Programmes Flashcards

1
Q

How did the social welfare budget change over time?

A

It increased from 12.7% of GDP in 1970 to 16.8% in 1979.

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2
Q

What were the 6 different aspects of welfare?

A
  1. Housing/ rent / New Cities 2. Healthcare 3. Education 4. Pensions 5. Minimum Wage 6. Mothers + Children Support
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3
Q

What was the social contract.

A

The idea that the government would provide generous social welfare in return for loyalty to the regime.

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4
Q

Housing.

A

Housing was a big problem in the GDR. There was not enough of it (multiple families would be sharing apartments) and the quality was very poor and far behind the West.

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5
Q

Housing- How long was the waiting list for repairs by to accommodation by 1989?

A

Waiting list of 800,000 requests for repairs to accommodation by 1989.

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6
Q

Housing- How much urban housing was destroyed or severely damaged during WW2?

A

2/3

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7
Q

Housing- What was Ulbricbht’s policy on housing?

A

To try and renovate/ repair existing housing.

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8
Q

Housing- What was Honecker’s policy on housing?

A

To build housing on a mass scale. Entirely new cities were built near industrial locations such as Guben, in which 80% of residents worked on the local chemical plant. Although these estates had access to their own facilities/jobs the quality of housing was very poor and there was a much higher crime rate. Overall, Honecker’s housing policy was popular.

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9
Q

Housing- How many homes were built between 1971 and 1990.

A

1.8 million homes built between 1971 and 1990.

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10
Q

Housing- What percentage of people living in newer housing said they were satisfied?

A

76% of people who lived in newer housing said they were satisfied. This shows overall, people were quite happy with their housing.

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11
Q

Healthcare- How was the health service funded?

A

Largely funded through a system of National Insurance, where employees contributed 10% of their income. However, at the end of the day, the GDR did not have the resources or funding for its health service. There were often shortages in basic equipment such as rubber gloves, syringes and drugs.

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12
Q

Healthcare- Was healthcare equal?

A

It was a well known fact that healthcare was not equal. Political elite/ scientists got better healthcare.

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13
Q

Healthcare- Attitudes to wider well being (e.g. mental health)

A

Reluctance to address issues such as mental health, alcoholism, suicide and domestic violence. Also reluctant to take responsibility for poor working condition in industry causing severe respiratory problems such as bronchitis.

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14
Q

Healthcare- States attitude to health

A
  • emphasis on prevention of illness rather than clinical medicine -huge celebratory campaigns after the GDR had a lower infant mortality rate than the FRG in 1959, even though it rose again the year after, and the number of hospital beds had been cut
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15
Q

Minimum wage- When was the minimum wage raised?

A

1979= 350 to 400 Ostmarks per month

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16
Q

Minimum wage- Why did the government raise the minimum wage?

A

They thought it would increase labour productivity but it didn’t.

17
Q

Pensions- How was Ulbricbht and Honecker’s policy on pensions different.

A

Ulbricht- pensions were comparatively neglected Honecker- pensions increased by 20% between 1971 and 1972. However for most people (apart from civil servants) they only got 33% of their salary, so the retirement age was high.

18
Q

Education.

A

Education focussed heavily on vocational/ military training and strong political indoctrination to create good workers and loyal citizens.

19
Q

Education- Opportunities for adult education

A

Endless and free training opportunities for adults.

20
Q

Education- Skilled workers to work opportunities statistic

A

70% of workers were skilled, but only suitable opportunities for 55% of them

21
Q

Education- military training

A

Compulsory military training for kids aged 13-15 once a week. Kindergarten students would watch demonstrations of new military equipment.

22
Q

Education- Describe the education system as of 1959

A

6-16, each child completed the basic unit of secondary education and in the final 2 years they either went to academic or vocational Extended Upper Schools.

23
Q

Education- Special schools

A

Students who were particularly gifted at sport, mathematics or languages would go to special schools with more funding.

24
Q

Women- Social welfare

A
  1. birth allowance 2. 1 year of maternity leave 3. extensive kindergarten care provided
25
Q

When was 1 year maternity leave for mothers introduced/

A

1976

26
Q

Women- Education and employment

A
  1. equal pay and equal rights in the workplace under the constitution 2. 80% of women had jobs by 1984 3. By 1984, 50% of university students were female
27
Q

What percentage of women had jobs by 1984?

A

80%

28
Q

By which year were 50% of students female?

A

1984

29
Q

Women- What evidence is there that there was a ‘glass ceiling’ for women?

A
  1. Lacking from management positions 2. Lacking from senior jobs in the political sphere
30
Q

Women- Relationships

A
  1. Free conversation and advice on birth control 2. Single mothers were commonplace 3. High divorce rate 4. Homosexuality decriminalised but discrimination was still commonplace.
31
Q

What percentage of children were born to single mothers in 1989?

A

33%

32
Q

In 1989, what percentage of divorces were initiated by women?

A

69%

33
Q

When was abortion made legal?

A

1972

34
Q

When was homosexuality decriminalised?

A

1968`

35
Q

Women- What was the role of women according to the SED?

A

The role of women was in in the home, raising a family. - demonstrated by the fact they got a day off to do domestic chores once a month. However they were expected to work as well which resulted in women having to do the ‘double shift’. Domestic chores were not shared equally.