Good Mother or Good Politician? Politics and Motherhood in Germany and the United States

Abstract

In recent years, political mothers have occupied the spotlight. One has seen a rising number of younger women having babies while being in office. But even with the increase of role models, combining a political career and motherhood is still far from easy. This article examines the experiences of women in two countries, namely Germany and the United States. The evidence suggests that it is easier for women to change the social climate of political life once a critical mass of representation is achieved. Therefore it can be assumed that mothers in the German Bundestag are facing broader support and less problems than those in the U.S. Congress since a much higher number of women has already paved the way for today’s generation of young mothers.Taking the political and socio-cultural situation in both countries into account, this article examines how compatible motherhood and political careers are in a comparative perspective. It not only attempts to answer the question of how successful female politicians manage to combine their political ambitions and family responsibilities but also of whether or not political practices have been changed to make life easier for mothers with small children.