Women in honorary positions

More than a third of people in Germany are involved in voluntary work, and the average proportion is even higher in rural regions. Civil society involvement is an important part of social life. It promotes social cohesion, supports the local infrastructure and compensates for a lack of services. At the same time, it offers those involved the opportunity to participate in meaningful projects, cultivate relationships, develop personal skills, realise their own ideas and thus help shape social cohesion.

However, women are less represented than men when it comes to co-determination. They are less likely to take on formal responsibility or managerial positions. They are more often active in less visible and informal areas. Women are also still underrepresented in political involvement. This reduces their opportunities to influence and shape society and their environment.

A look at the involvement in rural areas shows: The participation of women in clubs, associations or social services has increased considerably over the last two decades, while the proportion of committed men has remained largely unchanged. Nevertheless, women are still less likely to get involved than men. This gender difference is particularly large in very rural areas.

In order to overcome gender differences and promote equality, women need to be more involved in formal organisations and influential positions. Women are particularly lacking in areas where they can actively participate in decision-making and bring about change. In rural areas in particular, the potential of women to shape local developments is not being fully tapped. It is therefore particularly important to break down gender-specific barriers to volunteering in these areas, for example by improving the compatibility of professional, family and voluntary tasks and by offering mentoring and networking opportunities for women in leading positions.