ABSTRACT
In 1990, German reunification combined two societies which had developed significant differences relating to families and gender over 40 years of separation. Despite the new political and economic framework, some differences still persist. Thus, for the analysis of family diversity in Germany, it is essential to consider the differences between East and West Germany. In both regions, the diversity of family forms has increased significantly over the past five decades. A nuclear family consisting of a married couple with joint children in one household has lost much of its relevance. This de-standardization process is much more advanced in the East than in the West. An exception is the lower level of ethnic heterogeneity in the East, which is a consequence of the historic isolation of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) society. At the level of politics and society, significant developments have taken place in the Eastern states, especially in comparison to West German traditions. German family policy is increasingly freeing itself from its traditional narrow image of the family. The gender regime is also changing rapidly.
