Sexism in local politics

Women and female-identified individuals in all their diversity make up over half the population, yet they remain significantly underrepresented in local politics. Less than a third of the members of German local councils are women. One reason for this is that many women hesitate to enter politics in the first place, or step down from their mandates after some time. This is not due to a lack of interest or competence, but because they encounter structural hurdles and established networks that fail to adequately consider their perspectives and needs. Women holding local political offices increasingly report experiencing sexism, discrimination, and political structures that hinder their work. 

Local politics is central to democratic participation 

There is hardly any area where the scope for action for politicians is as direct and impactful as at the local level. From urban and transport planning to cultural offerings and social services, many aspects of daily life are negotiated and decided here. For democracy to remain vibrant and resilient, it requires the participation of people with the widest possible range of perspectives, backgrounds, and lived experiences.  

Constantly defending yourself can lead to burnout 

Experiencing sexism and having to repeatedly summon the strength to assert yourself and set boundaries is exhausting in the long run and can even lead to illness. While training on how to handle sexist situations can be helpful, it must not be the sole responsibility of those affected to prevent or stop sexism. 

Speak-up culture and active bystanding – solidarity has many names 

Sooner or later, we all encounter situations where people are belittled, excluded, or treated inappropriately because of their gender. We are then suddenly faced with a choice: do we intervene and become active bystanders? Or do we look away and remain passive? Most of the time, the boundary violation happens quickly, and before you have even considered what you can do, it is already over.  

What is the value of active bystanding? 

Active intervention sends a clear signal to the person perpetrating the sexism: this behavior is unacceptable. When such signals are sent consistently within a community, they can help change norms, shift the boundaries of what is acceptable, and curb sexist behavior in the long term. 

Learning to recognize sexist situations and respond appropriately and safely is a key skill. Safe intervention can take many forms: a disapproving look, interrupting or redirecting a situation, consciously choosing not to laugh at sexist jokes, having a clarifying conversation with a party colleague, or, if necessary, involving others. 

From our work in the "Together Against Sexism" alliance we know that sexism must be fought structurally and across society as a whole. At the same time, it is often the seemingly small, everyday situations that determine whether someone continues to hold a local political office or not. Do I feel safe among my colleagues? Do they intervene when boundaries are crossed, or am I left on my own? Many of those affected want exactly this kind of support in those moments: someone who steps in and does not look away.  

The "Together Against Sexism" alliance offers a wide range of free materials on its website with tips and advice on combating sexism—for those affected as well as for those who want to actively intervene against sexism.  

You can find the materials here: https://gemeinsam-gegen-sexismus.de/ 

If you have any questions, please contact  
Laura Giardina