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“But the macho act hasn’t died out”

Women and political power is a long story full of arguments and struggles that has not yet been written to the end.

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“But the macho act hasn’t died out”

Women and political power is a long story full of arguments and struggles that has not yet been written to the end. Because the participation of women in politics is still not a matter of course. Only around a third of all members of the German Bundestag are women. The CDU was only recently able to bring itself to a temporary quota for women.

A panel on which Dagmar Rosenfeld, Editor-in-Chief of WELT AM SONNTAG, spoke to three politicians revolved around this complex of topics. Ricarda Lang, co-chair of Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, admitted to being happy to have been involved in politics for years in a party that has been committed to the equal participation of women since it was founded.

There was never a meeting of a group without a woman sitting at the table or men alone deciding which woman was allowed to participate. However, there is no room for self-righteousness. "Scenes like this could still happen today."

The question is whether one accepts that in politics. That will no longer be easy today. Serap Güler from the CDU said: "Women and men have changed." There is now a certain sensitivity among men. Talking about dealing with women is much more open. "But this is also an issue that concerns the whole of society."

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP) noted that the problem of sexism is still there. The difference to the past, however, is that you react to it and it has consequences. Women, too, were more self-confident when crossing borders.

"But the macho number hasn't died out." Lang said that even with the Greens there weren't just "feminist role models". It is crucial, however, that the right way of dealing with each other is also structurally secured. How you assert yourself in politics is also a question of type: "And a certain type is always promoted."

But there are also women who don't want to assert themselves, aren't loud and sit in the front row: "But they bring an incredible amount of knowledge and skills to other positions." Here you have to ask yourself how you can promote women don't just rely on the change in type. Lang: "In the end, it's about the structures and not the women having to change."

Dagmar Rosenfeld asked more fundamentally: “How much femininity is actually possible in politics? How far can a woman show her femininity?” Güler said: “It's not always easy.” Little has changed there in the last 20 years.

It goes without saying that suits worn by male colleagues are not discussed. For women politicians, issues such as clothing or make-up played a much larger role. “But not just for men, but for women themselves.” It is not the case that there is strong solidarity among women when it comes to appearances.

Does a quota help or harm when assigning political positions? Not all parties see this as unproblematic. Güler explained: "In the past few years, the CDU has been aware that we have a chairperson." Everything that happened underneath "was then no longer the problem".

Güler is convinced that the quota could only be introduced by one man. Despite a federal chairwoman and chancellor, not much has changed in dealing with women in the past 20 years. "From my point of view, the quota was correct in that respect." As a woman, you can get into a certain position with a quota. "But in order to stay there, you have to prove yourself," says Güler.

“It really needs that pressure of the quota. I come from a party where that was never an issue. But of course we also discuss it," said Strack-Zimmermann. You personally believe that men's networks "work extremely well". Women's networks are much more complex. Women have to learn to work together in it.

“It is now the century of women. The topic is so clear and concise.” You can see it in all areas, from kindergarten to school to training. "The women do the right thing," says Strack-Zimmermann. Lang reported that women's networks are often just instruments of exchange: "But they must serve more as instruments of power.

How do we organize power together?” Regarding the quota, she said that her goal was “to abolish herself at some point”. You can see that you can't make progress without this pressure. If you look at the number of women in the Bundestag or on the executive boards, you have to ask yourself whether there is an invisible male quota that is controlled, for example, via the networks.

Güler said the aspect of solidarity among women is "extremely important". In politics, she was supported almost exclusively by men. In conclusion, Lang said: "Actually, we need a panel on which only men sit." Because feminist politics is also their job. Güler agreed: "People have recognized that in business, although not everywhere."

However, she notes that it is not easy to reconcile marriage and family with a political career. Above all, it is the male colleagues who give little thought to this because there is always someone at home who “keeps the shop running”. She understands very well that this deters women. "The issue of reconciling family and work is neglected in politics." Structural changes are needed.

In the end, Strack-Zimmermann broke a lance for men. The young generation has changed a lot in the meantime and developed a different awareness.

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