New study: four out of ten politicians with sexism experiences

Suggestive slogans, disrespectful remarks, a hand on the knee: sexual harassment is part of everyday life in political business and a cross-party problem. This is the conclusion of a study about which the im ARD– Midday magazine reported first.

Four out of ten politicians in Germany complain about experiences of sexism in everyday life. That goes from a Study by the Allensbach Institute for the European Academy for Women in Politics and Business (EAF Berlin), through which the “Team UPWARD” in the ARD– “Mittagsmagazin” reported first. It is the first large empirical study on sexism in politics.

Younger women are particularly hard hit. 40 percent of the politicians surveyed – across the spectrum of parties – stated that they had experienced sexual harassment before, while three percent had experienced it “more often”. Among the under 45-year-olds it is even 60 percent – seven percent “already more often”.

For the study, which was initially available exclusively to the “UPWARD Team”, the Allensbach Institute questioned more than 818 officials or mandate holders from the federal, state and local governments. 525 of them were women. The study was supplemented by 34 qualitative interviews, 27 of which were women. Two of them reported incidents in which they even asked for sexual favors for promotion or political support.

The authors of the study counted sexual harassment inappropriately touched, but also sexist remarks, appraising looks and unwanted pick-ups. According to the information, the attacks mainly occurred at informal gatherings, such as evening meetings at party conferences, election parties or retreats.

“Cross-party reports of inappropriate, suggestive remarks about appearance, figure or clothing,” it said. Sexual harassment and sexist slogans would occur on all political levels.

Cultural change difficult – too few women in offices

A cultural change in politics is therefore called for. According to the study, this is made more difficult by the fact that women continue to be underrepresented in political offices. This is particularly true at the municipal level. Not even a third of the city and local councils are women, 90 percent of the top positions in cities and municipalities are held by men.

The former FDP general secretary Linda Teuteberg said in the post of ARDMidday magazine, the topic of sexism accompanies her through her entire political career up to the FDP federal executive committee. “It is true that women are often assumed to be somehow less serious or less competent based on their appearance,” she criticizes.

This view is shared by 65 percent of the women surveyed in the study. They feel that they are expected to be different, both in terms of their performance, as well as their appearance and behavior. Almost half perceive that statements made by women are taken less seriously and that they are interrupted more often.

The quota question divides

When asked about quotas and legal parity rules, the respondents are divided, but there is a tendency for more women to be in favor of fixed guidelines. According to the study, 58 percent of women consider quotas to be effective in political parties, while only 31 percent of men surveyed think so. Half of the women politicians are in favor of legal requirements for equal appointments to offices and mandates, while the figure is only 23 percent for men.