Feminists forward

There remains a lot to be done in the fight for women’s rights, says Lissy Gröner

After the second world war, Germany was a troubled place. Trying to rebuild a country scarred by fascism in a Europe split by an iron curtain was a challenge for democracy. But it was this challenge, and especially the inclusion of women in the process, that motivated German Socialist MEP Lissy Gröner into doing something.

“I was convinced, as a young German woman, that I should do something for democracy. With the experience of the second world war, with nationalism, with fascism in Europe, I thought, democracy can only work if people take part. And if women don’t take part in this process it’s not democracy. What I experienced is that old men were mainly the politicians and policymakers, and I was not happy with this situation.”

Gröner joined the German Socialist (SDP) party in 1971 because she says it embodied her ideas about what democracy should be, and how women could be included in it. So would she call herself a feminist? “I am proud to be a feminist because a feminist for me is a person – it could also be a man – who stands up for women’s rights and for equality. I really think we have not come to the point where we have a balanced society. There is still a lot to do. Women are not in decision-making positions, or too few are in decision-making positions, either in economic, political or social life. We need many feminists.”

An MEP since 1989 and an active member of groups like the Socialist International Women and Workers’ Welfare, Gröner has been a tireless campaigner. But the issue closest to her heart is the fight for women’s rights. “It’s a disaster that women do not share the same economic rights and heritage rights as men, it’s a disaster. One hundred years ago, our mothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers didn’t have the right to vote, had not the right to go to university. I think that it is worthwhile to start activity and to work hard, then we will finally succeed. But it’s really hard, hard work.”

One of the toughest barriers in her work is the dominance of male decision-makers whose priorities run parallel to hers, but never intersect. “I think there is male-dominated decision-making, which try to find the weaker solution, let’s say. Last year we had the European year of equal opportunities for all; that’s widening the problem but not focusing on violence against women. I think there’s a fear of seeing the real dimension of violence against women in Europe and member states are not working actively enough to fight against this phenomenon. We have to act, we really need action and not more plans and ideas.”

Gröner has also been actively engaging with the EU for over 15 years on the issue of violence against women, but she hasn’t always received an entirely positive response. “I was working for many years to bring zero tolerance for violence against women more to the focus of public European discussions, and in 1999 we launched a Europe-wide campaign for zero tolerance. But the target was always to have a European year dedicated to it because there’s much more drive, much more attention coming from NGOs, from member states, to public discussions and there was quite a strong resistance from the commission. They didn’t want to have it.”

So for Gröner there’s still a lot left to do. The statistics are “unacceptable”, she says. Women are paid 15 to 30 per cent less than men, one in three women will be a victim of violence in her lifetime, there are no women in the top positions in the EU. So what does she think is the remedy? “For Europe we need very clear actions and signals. For example, there should be woman in the first role – a woman president of the institutions. I support fully what Vladimír Špidla, commissioner for equal opportunities, said, that we need a woman in the top position. I also want to have clear legislation. When we have good legislation it helps women to develop the right and the action in member states. We need to have women in good jobs in decision-making positions, and if this is not possible we need quotas to fulfil the target of equality.”

There remains a glass ceiling which women in Europe have failed to break. Take the European year of intercultural dialogue, for example, says Gröner. “I’m afraid that in the European year of intercultural dialogue, there is too much focus on religious leaders. Religion is not very feminist; they are not really interested in equality and I don’t want to mark any religion – it’s all monotheistic religions. Also, the parliament has invited leaders to speak about intercultural dialogue – there’s just one woman there.”

Despite all these setbacks and fighting a tough fight, Gröner remains upbeat. “I’m positive, I’m an optimistic person. When I think back to my mother’s, to my grandmother’s situation, it’s much better now. But let’s do much better for our daughters and granddaughters.”