In her master's thesis entitled „Ostdeutsche: Kein Bock auf Eliteposition?“ (East Germans: No interest in elite positions?) as part of her degree program in Management of Social Change, Mara Börjesson researched possible explanations for the underrepresentation of East Germans in key leadership positions. To this end, she used an experimental approach to analyze four books by East German authors from two generations—the “Wendekinder” (children of the reunification) and the “Nachwendekinder” (children of the post-reunification era)—and examined the experiences and narratives that emerge in them, as well as the themes they address.

The analysis showed that East German origins appear precarious from both a structural and symbolic perspective, at least for the children of reunification and that this continues in some cases across generations. The analysis clearly revealed the effects of social categorization processes, negative discourse about East Germany and structural disadvantage as a result of German reunification, as well as aspects of social background. Although the analysis did not identify any concrete explanations for the low proportion of East Germans in elite positions, intergenerational trends became apparent that show how structural and symbolic factors influence each other and help shape the opportunities and orientations of those socialized in East Germany. The results provide starting points for further research into the causes of the underrepresentation of East Germans and possible barriers to advancement, particularly with regard to the interactions between structure and subject.