German Minister-President in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Manuela Schwesig, Criticizes Treatment of Women in Politics
In a recent interview with the German magazine “Spiegel”, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern’s Minister-President, Manuela Schwesig, expressed her concerns about the way women are treated in politics. According to Schwesig, women in society are generally treated more critically than men, with their appearance, clothing and mannerisms being subject to closer scrutiny.
Schwesig emphasized that women are under constant pressure to prove their competence, regardless of their achievements. The added challenge of balancing work and family responsibilities is a common experience for many women, including herself, she said.
The Minister-President also criticized the way the Social Democratic Party (SPD) has handled its female leaders, such as Andrea Nahles and Saskia Esken. Schwesig described the public criticisms they faced as unacceptable and stated that it was often “really bad.” She stressed the importance of women in leadership positions supporting and promoting other women, a principle that applies equally to men, who should also support female up-and-comers and not rely solely on women to do so.