Participation / bodies

Many political, economic and cultural decisions are arrived at today in bodies, such as committees. Such bodies are a tool for steering complex organisational structures and decision-making processes in an efficient way, that is, above all quickly and competently. They concentrate staffing and specialist resources to structure complex and unclear fields of work. Bodies such as committees encounter us in the form of election management committees or staff commissions, in expert round table discussions or decision-making executive organs. They make important decisions, from the “teachers’ conference” in a Steiner school, in which female teachers also take part, through to the defence committee of the Bundestag, ot German Parliament.

In committees, Gender plays a part at many levels.

There is the question of who sits on committees and works in them and who makes the decisions. This is the area of representation in which an unequal distribution of women and men is often to be encountered. GM supports making the constitution of committees more representative and objective by prohibiting the privileging of men just because of their sex. From the point of view of gender equality and in view of the public impact of many committees, particular importance is attached to a balanced composition of committees with women and men.

Then there is the question of what is worked on in committees and what topics play a role there. GM tools ensure that topics are not defined purely from the male perspective, and that matters concerning private or family life are not dismissed as just “women’s concerns”.
Finally, there is the question of the expertise employed in committees. Gender Mainstreaming also means filling committees with gender competent men and women. Only in this way can it be ensured that the results of the work of committees comply with the requirements of gender equality.

There are a few Gender aspects which are often important for committee work.