You Can't Go Home Again: A Reluctant Return to Traditional Gender Roles in Post-Reunification Germany

Abstract

As unemployment rates rapidly rose during the immediate post-reunification period of Germany, women undeniably bore the brunt of the economic downturn in East Germany. Rachel Alsop thouroughly discusses this aspect of the ambiguous nature of German reunification in her book, A Reversal of Fortunes? Women, Work and Change in East Germany. However, she does not suggest solutions to the unemployment problem. This Book Review discusses positive action law, or affirmative action law, as one solution for women trying to break out of traditional gender roles and find new jobs.