Women in Bremen: Twice as much care work, but less money!

Women in Bremen: Twice as much care work, but less money!

On November 8, 2025, a current survey by the Bertelsmann Foundation in Bremen caused a stir. This has revealed fascinating insights into the division of labor between men and women in the household. Over two thirds of men who live in a relationship believe that they contribute equally to household management - a widespread misunderstanding, because the reality is different.

The survey shows that women spend an average of 29 hours per week on care work, while men only spend 20 hours on it. The gender care gap in Germany is an impressive 43.3 percent, which means that women do almost twice as much care work as their male partners. This discrepancy is particularly worrying because it affects not only women's everyday lives but also their economic situation.

Pay and part-time work in focus

Despite the fact that women in Germany work more, they are often paid less. This can be attributed not least to the fact that many women work in lower-paying sectors such as health or social services. As the survey shows, Bremen women earn 17 percent less than their male colleagues - a value that is above the national average. What is particularly striking is that over 75 percent of employed men in Bremen work full-time, while less than half of women do so.

In Bremen, the proportion of part-time workers among women is high at 45.2 percent, while the proportion among men is only 14.2 percent. This illustrates that many women - especially single parents, 90 percent of whom are women - have difficulty finding or maintaining full-time jobs. The increase in part-time jobs and the decline in mini-jobs for women are further signs of a changing world of work, but the stagnating number of full-time jobs shows that there is still a lot to do.

Growing challenges for women

In addition, women who enter lower-paying jobs often do not receive sufficient support when it comes to childcare. They often have lower pension entitlements because they pay less into the statutory pension insurance. This leads to increased dependence on financially better-off partners and causes pension gaps to continue to grow. Since around 65 percent of women in Bremerhaven who are subject to social insurance contributions are responsible for childcare, the challenge is perceived as even greater when it comes to the social conditions.

Another aspect that plays a role here is spousal splitting. This tax system promotes unequal income and therefore represents an obstacle to a more equitable distribution of care work. The need to rethink and change traditional gender roles is becoming increasingly urgent, particularly with regard to responsibility for children and caring for relatives.

The discussion around gender and related inequalities is also strongly supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), which highlights the complex barriers that women and girls face in accessing health information and services. These barriers can have a negative impact on health and often lead to a higher risk of violence and discrimination.

It is fundamental that society and politics recognize the structural inequalities that affect women and actively work to eliminate them. This is the only way to achieve real change for the benefit of all.