faz.net
German Bundestag's Female Representation Remains Low at 32.4%
Women hold 32.4% of seats in Germany's newly elected Bundestag, significantly below the 51.7% of women in the adult German population and lower than in 2013 (36.5%) and 2021 (35.7%). Germany ranks 44th internationally in female parliamentary representation, highlighting a need for policy changes.
- What is the current percentage of female representatives in the German Bundestag, and how does this compare to previous years and international standards?
- The representation of women in German parliaments remains significantly below parity. In the newly elected Bundestag, women hold only 32.4% of seats, a slight decrease from 35.7% in 2021 and 36.5% in 2013. Only the Green and Left parties have more female than male representatives.
- What are the key differences in female representation across different levels of German government (federal, state, local), and what might explain these variations?
- This underrepresentation is a persistent issue, with minimal improvement since 2008. While some progress is evident at the municipal level, where the proportion of women has increased from 25.6% in 2008 to 30.5% in 2024, national and state parliaments lag behind. Germany ranks 44th out of over 180 countries in terms of female representation in parliament.
- What specific policy measures could Germany implement to substantially increase the representation of women in its parliaments, considering the limited progress made so far?
- Germany's low ranking in international comparisons highlights a need for substantial policy changes to increase female representation. The lack of progress despite decades of efforts suggests existing strategies are insufficient. Without significant reforms, Germany is unlikely to achieve gender parity in its political institutions in the foreseeable future.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The framing centers on the persistent underrepresentation of women, highlighting the lack of progress over time. The use of statistics on lower percentages in various parliaments reinforces this negative framing. While objective in presenting data, the selection and emphasis of data points to a narrative of insufficient progress.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses primarily on the underrepresentation of women in German parliaments, providing specific numbers and comparisons across different levels of government. However, it omits discussion of potential underlying causes for this underrepresentation, such as societal norms, political party structures, or electoral systems. It also doesn't explore potential solutions or initiatives aimed at increasing female representation. While acknowledging limitations of space, these omissions limit a complete understanding of the issue and potential avenues for improvement.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights the underrepresentation of women in German parliaments at all levels, including the Bundestag, Landtags, and Kommunalparlamente. Despite some regional variations, the overall trend shows a persistent gender imbalance, far from achieving gender parity. This directly hinders progress towards SDG 5, Gender Equality, specifically target 5.5, which aims for increased representation of women in decision-making positions.