It can be concluded from a study conducted by the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin. The main reason for underpayment is care of children or elderly relatives.
German culture minister Monika Grütters. Photo: Olaf Kosinsky, Wikimedia
Though women constitute about 48% of the cultural workforce in Germany, they hold only 21% of top management positions at media companies and 16% of the decision-making positions at major culture departments, the Art Newspaper quotes the study.
Women represent 39% of the faculties of art colleges, but only 20% of the presidents of art colleges are women. Yet two-thirds of students studying arts, humanities and media subjects are female.
The study found that the main barrier in women’s career is care of children or elderly relatives. Women have to interrupt their careers to take care of children, which also makes their pensions significantly lower.
“We still need to catch up in terms of the proportion of women in leadership positions in broadcast and media companies and in closing the gender pay gap,” German culture minister Monika Grütters said. The study was commissioned by the government. Germany works to solve gender problems in different areas and narrow gender pay gap through science, education and lelgislation, including laws on child and elder care.
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