Mothers’ trust in the federal government has been damaged during the corona pandemic: not even every tenth mother said in November 2022 that she had “very high” or “high” trust in the federal government. This is shown by data published by the Institute for Economic and Social Sciences (WSI) earlier this week. A third of the mothers surveyed even stated that they had “no trust at all” in the federal government. The researchers have never measured such a high value before.
The data comes from the labor force survey WSI. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the researchers have repeatedly asked employed and jobseekers about their living situation. More than 5,000 people took part in the most recent survey in November. The scientists first asked how much trust mothers have in the federal government in October 2021. The number of mothers who say they have “no trust at all” in the federal government has more than doubled since then: from 16 percent in October 2021 to 34 percent in November 2022.
The data from the WSI show a general loss of trust in the federal government. Confidence in the work of Olaf Scholz and his cabinet has also decreased among men, while the values for the subgroup of fathers have remained more or less the same as in the last survey in April. But in no other group is the value as low as in the case of mothers.
It’s about organizing childcare – and care work in general
How could it possibly come this far? And why do men and women differ so significantly in their trust in the federal government?
Childcare sharing provides part of the answer. Women still do most of the so-called care work. They therefore experienced more severely how the care situation in day-care centers and schools was deteriorating, children were suffering and women were restricted in their career planning, says Sonja Bastin, a sociologist at the University of Bremen. “They realize that what was already incompatible before the pandemic is even more incompatible now,” says Bastin. “That leads to the expectation of politicians that something has to be done.” But because no measures were taken, trust continued to fall.
Bastin calls for a general rethinking of the issue of care work: “When it comes to parental allowance, care or daycare, the question is always asked who should pay for it. But none of us can live if this care work is not done. No business could open.” says Bastin. “What is being done at the moment is not enough.”
The women’s policy spokeswoman for the Left Party in the Bundestag, Heidi Reichinnek, takes a similar view: “It’s very clear that society has to change,” she told the SZ. Politicians must create the framework conditions for this: For example, through 28 days of parental leave for the second parent, equal parental leave of 12 months for each parent or shorter working hours with full wage compensation.
The representatives of the governing parties in the Bundestag can easily enumerate what they have set in motion: Leni Breymaier, family policy spokeswoman for the SPD parliamentary group, refers to citizen income and the increased minimum wage. The traffic light coalition has increased the funds for student loans and housing allowances and expanded the group of beneficiaries. In addition, the child benefit will increase on January 1st. “There has never been so much increase,” says Breymaier of the SZ. The planned basic child security will be “a milestone”.
Nina Stahr, education policy spokeswoman for the Greens, emphasizes the Kita Quality Act. In addition, the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency has recently been set up, which parents can turn to if they are discriminated against at work. The FDP claims to have prevented comprehensive school and daycare closures in the traffic light coalition at an early stage. In addition, the tax allowances for single parents have been increased, says Nicole Bauer, spokeswoman for women’s policy and diversity of the FDP.
The reform of basic child security is dragging on
The problem with many of these projects: mothers do not yet feel a direct effect. There will only be more child benefit in the new year, and the authorities expect long waiting times for housing benefit. Others are just being planned: Six ministries are working on the reform of basic child security. In January, the Green Minister for Family Affairs, Lisa Paus, wants to present the first key points, and a draft law by the end of 2023. Money could flow for the first time in 2025.
CSU politician Dorothee Bär criticizes this: Minister Paus has been talking about basic child security since she took office, “without even reading a specific point here in the meantime,” says Bär of the SZ. She sees not only shortcomings in the implementation of projects, but also errors in communication. “What is particularly disappointing is the reticence of the Chancellor on this subject.”
The Federal Press Office refers to the Ministry of Family Affairs on request. No comment was received from there.
The high burden on mothers, the financial worries, the restrictions in professional life, “that will have long-term consequences,” says sociologist Sonja Bastin. “Families don’t just produce new people. They shape them for life.” Anyone who is taught as a child that the state is not there for them, that they are ignored, does not shake it off that easily. And so the trust of families in politics is dwindling.