This Train Has Left the Station: The German Gender Equality Regime on Course Towards a Social Democratic Model (2013–17)

Abstract

Based on a concept of gender equality regimes that combines measures for employment, care work, and anti-discrimination, we analyse how Germany has continued to shift from a conservative to a social democratic gender regime from 2013 to 2017. We contend first, that the reform agenda in family policy continuously changed and is now geared towards a social democratic gender regime. Secondly, we observe diffusion processes and increased social democratisation of related policy areas such as employment, anti-discrimination and gender variance. Thirdly, we argue that the parliamentary consensus for egalitarian gender policies has opened up a strategic terrain for right-wing opposition and new forms of political polarisation. Empirically, we draw on an analysis of party manifestos, the coalition agreement between the Union parties (CDU/CSU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD), as well as political reforms in the fields of family policy, gender equality on the labour market, and anti-discrimination for sexual minorities. Our review shows that there has been a tangible shift towards a social democratic gender equality regime in all three policy fields. At the same time, the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) on the far right became the new populist voice of parliamentary opposition against this reform agenda.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Annette Henninger is a Professor for Gender and Politics at the University of Marburg, Germany. Her areas of expertise include labour market, family, and gender equality policies, social policy, gender, intersectionality and democracy. Her English language publications include ‘Gendering the German Minimum Wage Debate: A male frame for a female problem’, in: Louise Davidson-Schmich (ed.) Gender, Intersections, and Institutions: Intersectional Groups Building Alliances and Gaining Voice in Germany. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press and ‘Grand Coalition and Multi-Party Competition: Explaining Slowing Reforms in Gender Policy in Germany’ (2009–2013). German Politics, 23 (4), 386–399 (with Angelika von Wahl). Currently, she is doing empirical research on anti-gender mobilisation in Germany.

Angelika von Wahl is an Associate Professor and the Chair of the International Affairs Program at Lafayette College (United States). Her research interests focus on issues of gender and social policy in Germany, the United States, and the European Union. She is interested in labour market, family, and gender equality policies, female representation, human rights and Intersectionality. She is the author of several monographs and has published articles in Social Politics, West European Politics, German Politics & Society, German Politics and other journals. Currently she is working on a monograph on Germany’s ‘third gender’ law and has published several book chapters on the topic of intersex rights and social mobilisation.

Notes

1 The term ‘anti-discrimination’ raises a red flag for Christian Democratic parties and is not used in their election manifesto. However, the less offensive term ‘discrimination’ is used twice to object to both discrimination against civil unions and same-sex partnerships (CDU/CSU 2013: 38) as well as discrimination based on age (CDU/CSU 2013, 25).