Women Leading Municipalities

The study "Women Leading Municipalities" examines the career paths of mayors in East and West Germany. To mark the 25th anniversary of the Peaceful Revolution, the Federal Government Commissioner for the New Federal States commissioned EAF Berlin to conduct this comparative survey. The results were presented at the first nationwide congress for women in municipal leadership positions. One concrete outcome was the establishment of a network for female mayors in Bavaria.

While the proportion of women in politics at the federal and state levels has risen steadily in recent years, their share in municipal representative bodies remains at just 25 percent. Currently, only one in ten town halls is headed by a woman. What are the reasons for this underrepresentation? How can it be overcome? Are there differences between East and West? These are the central questions addressed.

A key finding: Today, mayors in the East and West have more in common than what divides them. Nevertheless, there are differences in their career paths and biographies, as well as in their experiences balancing office and family life. Furthermore, the proportion of female mayors is significantly higher in the East than in the West.

The recommendations for action developed from these results offer concrete starting points for new ways of recruiting talent, promoting women's careers, and fostering sustainable local politics.