In Germany, No Room for Women at the Top - Building Gender Balanced Business

“We are still very far from a situation where it’s as normal for women as for men to want both a career and family — even among young women.” — Angelika Dammann, the only female member on software company SAP’s board

Female representation on corporate executive boards is low in most countries, even in the nations where one would expect gender equality. In Sweden, the executive boards are 17% female; in the U.S. and Britain, 14%. But at a mere 2%, Germany is lagging way behind.

The problem persists despite the fact that Germany has one of Europe’s lowest birthrates and is experiencing significant labor shortages in skilled technical professions.

“Germany is good at structural reforms, but not at cultural reforms.” — Deutsche Telekom human resource chief Thomas Sattelberger

Former Minister of Family Affairs and now Minister of Labour Ursula von der Leyen, a mother of seven, has fought for boardroom quotas, despite their unpopularity. She has also introduced other measures that make it easier for women to juggle both work and family.

• Ms. von der Leyen introduced a 14-month, paid shared parental leave in 2007
• She sponsored a law that promises every 1-year old a nursery place
• She is an advocate for all-day schooling

“In the DAX companies, the old social order is the most pervasive. This is a place where male dominance, elitism, power and money all come together.” — Thomas Sattelberger

Interviewing male and female managers in German companies, Heidelberg’s Sinus Sociovision institute discovered these three patterns of thinking among male bosses:

• Those who think that women just aren’t cut out to serve on boards and in executive committees
• Those who think they are, but are afraid their colleagues don’t and are therefore concerned about cohesion
• Those who think that women tend to overcompensate and as a result aren’t “authentic”

In such an environment, it’s not surprising that German women aren’t making their way to executive boards. Advocates for quotas believe that they are necessary in order to get companies to accept women fully. As von der Layen puts it, “Laws help change mentalities.”

To read the entire New York Times article, click here.