The family was an embattled social institution in the 20 ^th century. Competing notions of society focused on the family. Conflicts included the understanding of gender roles, the meaning of housework and outside work, and ideas about partnership and child-rearing. These issues were always linked to the question of which forms of family the state should legitimize or discriminate against.

Christopher Neumaier, Zentrum für Zeithistorische Forschung Potsdam