Dynamics of women's employment patterns over the family life course: A comparison of the United States and Germany

We use evens history analysis to study the effects of family-related factor s on the employment behavior of U.S. and (West) German women in a dynamic l ife course perspective. Data from the National Survey of Families and House holds and the German Socioeconomic Panel are analyzed to examine the differ ential determinants of entry into and exit from full-time and part-time emp loyment during the family life course and the differences in these processe s between the two countries. Marriage and childbearing continue to influenc e exit from and entry into paid work in both countries. Family structure pl ays a stronger role in women's working lives in Germany than in the U.S., a nd part-rime work in Germany is more closely related to child-bearing.