Staying
In some regions of eastern Germany, there are up to twenty percent more young men than women. Since the fall of the Wall, it has been predominantly young women who have been moving from the east to the west of the country, or to metropolitan areas such as Leipzig, Dresden, or Berlin.
The decision of young men to stay is often interpreted as a passive choice, a kind of resignation. But is that really the case? Who are these men really? Why do so few facets of their lives find their way into the public perception? What role models of masculinity do these men look up to, and why have they stayed?
For my project, I traveled to all of the new federal states that used to belong to former East Germany. Between 2021 to 2025 I’ve photographed various young men between the ages of 20 and 45 and talked to them about their lives. It was supported by the NEUSTART KULTUR PROGRAM.
