Germans dying faster than they are making babies
The birth rate in Germany dwindled in 2006 to its lowest rate since 1946, according to the Federal Office of Statistics. 673,000 babies were born, a drop of 1.6 percent from the previous year. In comparison, 822,000 people died--149,000 more than those starting their journey through life--dropping Germany's population to 82.32 million humans.
Berlin, as usual, hasn't followed the lead of the rest of Germany. The better question is whether the rest of country follows the capital, or are we considered too boheme? Berlin's scene districts of Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg and Friedrichhaim are very fertile--babies pop out of the presumably very hip bellies of the women living there at the fastest rate in the country.
Various reasons have been cited for Germany's plunging birth rate. A common one is that people are scared off by the expense of raising a child in a stagnant economy. The Germans may enjoy one of the best social nets in one of the world's very rich countries, but that has never stopped them from imagining the worst. Apparently they fear they can't afford children.
Some people say German women would be willing to bear children again if they didn't have to stop work. Following the French model, they could turn their offspring into day cares and kindergartens as young as 2-years-old. However, resistance to the idea is widespread in Germany--mothers apparently should still be with their children, at least when they are young.
That attitude might not fade with the younger generation, if a recent survey of 20-year-old women is any indication. Asked were females from the "middle" _ a German definition of those who aren't from the social bottom, but also without enough education to become professionals. This group expects to work, but still counts on the man to bring home a good paycheck. In turn they are willing to shoulder more of the household duties.
And the young women from the middle heap scorn on members of their sex both below and above their in-between status. One is negligent, letting their children chow down too many Big Macs as the television runs all day; the other is "career-obsessed" and should be ashamed for turning over the job of raising their offspring to others. June 7, 2007
![[MAILTO]](?source=moinmoin&mode=attachment&uri=%2Fwiki%2Frightsidebar%2Fimg%2Fmoin-email.png){kind=small}
hello@zgberlin.com
