Young East Germans are breaking stereotypes and demanding equality!

Young East Germans are breaking stereotypes and demanding equality!

Young voices from Thuringia have their say in a current discussion about East German identity and the ongoing differences between East and West Germany. Mareike (25) from Mühlhausen and Paul (26) from Sömmerda impressively addressed the stereotypes against East Germans in a video on the YouTube channel “follow me.reports”. The two make it clear that the dividing lines are not only in the past, but can also be felt in the present. Paul, who drives around in his father's Trabi, describes his homeland with pride and sees this identification as part of his identity, while Mareike brings East German traditions into play - such as the Jugendweihe and the famous Thuringian Bratwurst. Coolis reports from Yarikh, who does not perceive the differences in everyday life between East and West Germany as negative, but as part of the reality of his life.

But what are the specific challenges that East Germans face? The difference in wages is clearly noticeable. On average, employees in the East earn 13,000 euros less gross per year than their West German colleagues. And when it comes to inheritances, there is also a clear picture: While the average inheritance in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg is 250,000 euros after tax deductions, in East Germany it is only 10,000 euros. These facts promote the feeling of many East Germans that they are second-class citizens - a feeling shared by 43 percent of those surveyed. The Federal Agency for Civic Education sees a discrepancy here, which is also reinforced in the media representation.

Fighting against clichés

It is clear that clichés about the “right-wing radical East” do not reflect the whole truth. Mareike speaks openly about developments such as Pegida, but points out that this radicalism should not be trivialized. Paul, on the other hand, sees his hometown of Dresden positively and refutes the lively prejudices. This ambivalent view of their own region is being addressed aggressively by the younger generation - they reject stereotypical jokes and would rather promote understanding and openness between East and West Germany.

The perception of differences is colored by history and the present. 65 percent of young East Germans identify strongly with their region and identify the existing inequalities. A survey shows that 78 percent of those born after 1989 support equality measures, indicating a confident demeanor and a demand for fairer treatment. Loud MDR The perception of East-West conflicts is particularly strong among young people.

Break down entrenched thought patterns

The participants in the interviews, which were supported by the Federal Agency for Civic Education, show that there is a distance from West Germans, but not a strong emotional polarization. The media portrayal of East Germany is often perceived as unjustified or irrelevant to one's own life. This discrepancy between public perception and personal identity shows that many young East Germans want their identity to be normalized in everyday life, which is often not reflected in the mainstream discourse. The discourse about one's own identity is perceived as a necessary, but not emotional, challenge.

So Mareike and Paul's message remains clear: "Come by, visit us. And we will come visit you in return." With this invitation they want to promote understanding between East and West and show that the differences do not lie in the basis of their identity, but in the experiences and stories that each individual brings with them.