EKD Press Releases
What Makes a Man a Man? (1)
Study: Men's understanding of their role in flux
March 18, 2009
More and more men are reconsidering the traditional understanding of roles. Greater numbers of them accept a professional activity on the part of mothers and are more willing than ten years ago to take parental leave. This is one of the findings of an empirical study "Men on the Move: Ten Years of Men's Progress in Germany," conducted by the Düsseldorf social scientist Rainer Volz and the Viennese pastoral theologian and sociologist Prof. Paul Michael Zulehner on behalf of the Gemeinschaft der Katholischen Männer Deutschlands (GKMD) [Catholic Men's Fellowship of Germany] and the Men's Association of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD). Funding was provided by the Federal Ministry for Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.
The study identified four categories of men: 27 percent of the men surveyed fall into the "semi-traditional" category. They were still considered "traditional" ten years ago, but have adopted more modern attitudes since then. This group is shrinking steadily (down from 30 percent in 1998). Ten years ago, this category of man considered himself the family's sole breadwinner, but now more willingly accepts a professional activity on the part of women and mothers and no longer regards it as something negative. The "modern" man (19 percent), who believes in equal participation in professional and family life, is more active in his role as father. This group continues to be the smallest one, but has grown by two percent compared to 1998. There is also the "uncommitted" category (24 percent), who take from traditional and modern values that which best fits into their life concept. Finally, the largest group (30 percent) is composed of the so-called "questioning" man; he has still to find his proper place in society, in the family and professionally; he is uncertain whether he should be primarily traditional or modern in his outlook.
Various patterns indicate that "men are on the move," as the study's title suggests. According to the survey, only 54 percent of men still feel women are naturally better suited to raise children than men. In 1998, that figure was 65 percent. Meanwhile, 58 percent of men agree that husband and wife should both contribute to household income, as compared with 54 percent in 1998. Ironically, men with a modern concept of the family also feel that marriage as an institution has a future. Only 13 percent of men in the modern category consider marriage to be an archaic institution. On the other hand, 35 percent of traditionally-minded men believe in the viability of marriage in the future. In 1998, 27 percent of men approved the statement "For a man it is unreasonable to be expected to stay home to care for his young child", and ten years later this view was still held by 25 percent.
Ursula von der Leyen says, "Marriage, family, the rearing of children and caring for the elderly are cornerstones of the social edifice. How strongly the latter resists in the future depends essentially on how quickly the equitable sharing of tasks between men and women succeeds. The great demand for paternity leave in connection with parental pay is an encouraging sign that, if young men are offered the right incentives, shifts in behavior can be achieved. The study also shows that we are on the right track, but we have we still have a long way to go."
Archbishop Ludwig Schick, in charge of the men's ministry within the German Bishops' Conference, highlighted the growing religiosity of the young men surveyed compared to ten years ago. "The attachment of members to their respective churches and the empathy of non-members have markedly grown." The church is regarded both as the custodian of traditional patterns of living and as a catalyst for change, Schick said. Consequently, 31 percent of men expect support from churches in restructuring their role as men. In 1998, the proportion was only 12 percent.
Bishop Wolfgang Huber, chairperson of the EKD Council, hailed the emergence of this new generation of fathers: "Men have come to recognize that they are not giving something up by balancing professional and family life, by being present for their children as fathers or sharing tasks equitably with their partners." Huber cited the area of religious education. It can no longer be assumed that this area is the exclusive responsibility of women. More and more, men - fathers and grandfathers in particular, but also godfathers - must assume a greater share of this task.
Around 1,470 men between the ages of 17 and 85 years were surveyed for the study, and their views were compared with a control group of 970 women. The topics covered were family, work, the private sphere (e.g. sexuality, violence, suffering), as well as spirituality and church. The study was a follow-up of the first empirical study of 1998 Männer im Aufbruch. Wie Deutschlands Männer sich selbst und wie Frauen sie sehen [Men on the move: how German men see themselves and how women see them].
(1) From a song by Herbert Grönemeyer entitled Männer
The full study can be downloaded at [German]:
www.dbk.de and http://www.ekd.de/download/maennerstudie2009-03-18.pdf (7,15 MB)
Hanover, 18 March 2009
Press Office of the EKD
Silke Römhild
This press release is being published simultaneously by the press office of the German Bishops' Conference and the Federal Ministry for Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. We apologize for any copies received in duplicate.