Women and work in former Communist Europe: An analysis of female employment pattern in USSR, East Germany, and West Germany

Women in Eastern Europe have among the highest rate of employment in the industrialized world. Such high levels of employment are the result of specific historic, demographic, and ideological aspects that are unique to the former Communist Block. This paper analyses female employment patterns in two former Communist countries, former USSR and former East Germany between the mid 1980's and the early 1990's. Because Unified Germany arose out of the former East and former West Germany, this paper also includes an analysis of employment patterns in West Germany. Women from the former USSR and former East Germany are still adjusting to the new economic system. To understand the future, is to learn about the past. Analyzing employment patterns just before and after the fall of Communism is the key to dealing with unique challenges of women in Eastern Europe today.