This Train Has Left the Station: The German Gender Equality Regime on Course Towards a Social Democratic Model (2013–17)

Abstract

Based on a concept of gender equality regimes that combines measures for employment, care work, and anti-discrimination, we analyse how Germany has continued to shift from a conservative to a social democratic gender regime from 2013 to 2017. We contend first, that the reform agenda in family policy continuously changed and is now geared towards a social democratic gender regime. Secondly, we observe diffusion processes and increased social democratisation of related policy areas such as employment, anti-discrimination and gender variance. Thirdly, we argue that the parliamentary consensus for egalitarian gender policies has opened up a strategic terrain for right-wing opposition and new forms of political polarisation. Empirically, we draw on an analysis of party manifestos, the coalition agreement between the Union parties (CDU/CSU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD), as well as political reforms in the fields of family policy, gender equality on the labour market, and anti-discrimination for sexual minorities. Our review shows that there has been a tangible shift towards a social democratic gender equality regime in all three policy fields. At the same time, the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) on the far right became the new populist voice of parliamentary opposition against this reform agenda.