Gender equality in Germany

Comparing policy change across domains

Bibliographic Data

ID6407845
AuthorsAngelika Von Wahl (0000-0002-2313-6790, Schlumberger (Ireland), corresponding author)
Year2006
Volume29
Issue3
Pages461-488
Publication date2006-05-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueWest European Politics (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0140-2382 • E-ISSN: 1743-9655
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/01402380600619793
OpenAlexW1998357194
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited55

Focusing on the past 25 years in three central arenas of political, social, and civil rights, this article engages in the current debate over policy change and the direction of German politics by analysing the issue of gender equality. Combining T.H. Marshall's concept of citizenship and Hall's analysis of policy change, I obtain a two-level framework that differentiates between policy changes and categorises reform in Germany in three different domains. The case studies are: quotas in political representation (political citizenship), women and reconciliation policy (social citizenship), and anti-discrimination policies (civil citizenship). Comparing policy change across domains demonstrates that change in these three arenas has occurred to different degrees and for different reasons; electoral competition has fostered policy change in representation, while the male-breadwinner model has slowed down reform for reconciliation of family and employment. A conservative affirmative action regime stands in opposition to individual anti-discrimination and limits potential change. This comparison across domains defines the dependent variable 'policy change' in a more nuanced way, helping to pinpoint and differentiate specific areas of reform. Acknowledgements I would like to thank the Berlin Social Science Research Centre (WZB) for providing a collegial and productive environment during my stay as a guest researcher. I would also like to acknowledge helpful comments and feed-back from Brigitte Geissel and the two anonymous reviewers of this article, as well as crucial research and technical support from Janice Cornwall and Esther Seha. Notes 1. Constitutionally based quotas, such as 'parité' instituted in France are rather rare. 2. Paragraph 1356, Section 1, Sentence 2 BGB (Civil Law

Demographic economics · Economics · Gender equality · Political economy · Political science · Sociology · Gender Politics and Representation · Gender Studies · Labor Movements and Unions · Social Policy and Reform Studies

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