Birgit Rudolf emphasizes that Germany is still quite far from actual equality. Women earn on average about 20 percent less than men. "This wage gap, also called the 'gender pay gap,' must be urgently eliminated," demands Birgit Rudolf, "women's offices or equality bodies are working on this."
At all levels except the federal, the municipal women's representatives are active and well networked. They conduct awareness campaigns or events on a wide range of topics and issues to raise public awareness, highlight gender equality deficits, or persuade policymakers of the need for necessary measures.
Applications are also directed to the Federal Working Group of Municipal Women's and Equality Officers or passed on to the federal ministries. Only in this way can long-term changes be achieved, Birgit Rudolf is convinced and goes on to say: “Through our consulting activities, we constantly learn where there are infrastructural as well as societal deficits regarding equality and the consideration of women's realities. Since we focus on gender equality – one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals – we are able to make proposals for positive, balancing measures and implement them if necessary in coordination with our own administration and councils. In the Saarpfalz district, we have so far offered many different projects, information events, courses, seminars, and lectures to qualify and inform women.” Birgit Rudolf cites the “Coordination Office for Women and Work” as a particularly successful and effective project. Within this framework, the Saarpfalz district has been successfully conducting consultations, coaching, and mentoring programs since 2004. Following this example, advisory centers have also been established in all other Saarland districts in recent years.
„The Women's Office and its staff are the driving force in anchoring issues around equal and gender-just living conditions in social development. We cannot and do not want to do without that. The fact that we are on the right path is proven not least by the numerous positive feedback from women who have been or are in contact with the Women's Office. Therefore, I am very grateful for the expertise and support that comes from our Women's Office,“ emphasized District Administrator Dr. Theophil Gallo.
Birgit Rudolf knows which issues require greater consideration of women's concerns. “Unfortunately, we observe that in Germany and also in the Saarland, the implementation of the Istanbul Convention (Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence) has not been sufficient in the sense that there is still no comprehensive provision of counseling centers and emergency shelters or women's shelters. Nationwide, about 8,300 places are missing. The Saarland currently only has 31 instead of the 100 mandated by the Istanbul Convention.”
Regarding the topic of "balancing family and career," Birgit Rudolf also sees that society has not yet reached fair living conditions: "Due to the lack of childcare places, many women are still forced to hold back professionally, which naturally also affects their income situation and reinforces the 'gender pay gap.' Progress towards equal sharing of responsibilities within the family is slowly becoming visible in the younger generation. Nevertheless, it is the women who are much more involved in care work, i.e., caring for children and relatives in need of care, than their partners. There is still a great need for action here as well."
And what about women in leadership positions? "They are still rare. Even in politics, we are far from a parity-based composition of municipal parliaments," replies the women's representative.
Birgit Rudolf draws a clear conclusion: "There is still a lot to be done. Our goal of making ourselves as women’s or equality officers redundant has, despite all efforts, probably not yet been achieved for a long time."
Note: The new mentoring process has started again. Only a few spots are left. Those who still want to participate, please contact the Women's Office of the Saarpfalz district, Tel. (06841) 104-7138.
