"If anything, German couples are getting more conservative, according to a study by the Allensbach Institute on Lake Constance, which regularly polls Germans on behalf of Vorwerk, a maker of household appliances. Fathers want to take a more active role in parenting, and they make more use of paternity leave after a birth (new laws are making this easier). But that is about as much change as they can bear.
In 1993, 47% of men and 54% of women said that the man should sometimes put his career behind his partner’s or other family needs, as Mr Asmussen is now doing. In last year’s poll, only 40% of men agreed and 48% of women. In 1993, 29% of men said they would move to another city for the woman’s career; last year only 26% said the same. (By contrast, about half of women would move to another city for their partners.) There has been almost no change in how few can imagine the man taking care of the children and housework while the woman is the breadwinner (17% of men and 23% of women). And most men and women are still uncomfortable if the woman earns more."
In 1993, 47% of men and 54% of women said that the man should sometimes put his career behind his partner’s or other family needs, as Mr Asmussen is now doing. In last year’s poll, only 40% of men agreed and 48% of women. In 1993, 29% of men said they would move to another city for the woman’s career; last year only 26% said the same. (By contrast, about half of women would move to another city for their partners.) There has been almost no change in how few can imagine the man taking care of the children and housework while the woman is the breadwinner (17% of men and 23% of women). And most men and women are still uncomfortable if the woman earns more."
