Journal article
Deutschland in der Reproduktionskrise
Publication Details
Authors: | Jürgens, K. |
Publication year: | 2010 |
Journal: | Leviathan |
Pages range : | 559-587 |
Volume number: | 38 |
Issue number: | 4 |
ISSN: | 0340-0425 |
eISSN: | 0340-0425 |
DOI-Link der Erstveröffentlichung: |
Abstract
To date, the topic of reproduction has been limited to questions concerning the futurelabour force, i.e. demographic development and the stabilization of the social welfare system.However, a shift in perspective focusing more on the current labour force appears unavoidable.Fundamental changes have occurred in the areas of gainful employment and the welfare stateas well as in the family. People are barely able to fulfil expectations; at the same time, they areexperiencing an erosion of their power as labourers. This is caused, on the one hand. by thepersistent hierarchies between the public and private sphere. On the other hand, contradictionsoccurring within these spheres of activity also play a significant role. Such contradictions havebegun to result in increasing cases of personal overload and personal failure. Connecting theresults of research from different fields, one conclusion seems obvious: German society is in themidst of a ‘reproduction crisis’.
To date, the topic of reproduction has been limited to questions concerning the futurelabour force, i.e. demographic development and the stabilization of the social welfare system.However, a shift in perspective focusing more on the current labour force appears unavoidable.Fundamental changes have occurred in the areas of gainful employment and the welfare stateas well as in the family. People are barely able to fulfil expectations; at the same time, they areexperiencing an erosion of their power as labourers. This is caused, on the one hand. by thepersistent hierarchies between the public and private sphere. On the other hand, contradictionsoccurring within these spheres of activity also play a significant role. Such contradictions havebegun to result in increasing cases of personal overload and personal failure. Connecting theresults of research from different fields, one conclusion seems obvious: German society is in themidst of a ‘reproduction crisis’.
