A Comparison of Job Opportunities for Women in Germany and the UK

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2013 in the subject Business economics - Business Management, Corporate Governance, grade: First Class, New College Durham (New College Durham/ Leeds Metropolitan University), language: English, abstract: The purpose of this project was to analyse to what extent gender equality has been
achieved, which barriers still exist in female employment and to evaluate opportunities
for women in the UK in comparison to those in Germany. The author reviewed a wide
array of sources, such as studies, laws and articles, but the main analysis was done on
the basis of extensive data that has been collected by the OECD and the World
Economic Forum. Based on those findings, gender gaps concerning labour force
participation, occupational sectors and types of work as well as wages and pensions
were identified for both countries. More specifically this paper provides information on
the main barriers for women in employment, the most important of which are maledominated
corporate cultures and discrimination. Especially mothers experience
barriers, like the lack of affordable childcare, insufficient flexible working options, or the
fact that people who use those are disadvantaged as well as unequal contribution of
unpaid work and childcare, despite laws that allow fathers to participate more in family
life. During the whole project, the applicability of theories such as the 'Glass Ceiling',
the 'Sticky Floor' or the 'Opt-Out Revolution' has been tested in order to identify
reasons for inequality. Furthermore, measures which have already been taken against
the existing barriers were described, and some that could be taken in the future were
suggested. Differences between conditions for women in Germany and the UK have
been analysed, compared and evaluated, with the result that the UK offers slightly
better chances, but both countries achieve quite different results in particular
categories. Depending on which aspects a woman puts emphasis on, this thesis can
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