Despite its leading position in Europe?s economy, Germany still trails behind other European countries when it comes to female participation in the labor force and advancement to management positions. Perceptions that women are unfit for the board room, are perpetuated, and reinforced by social institutions and government policies that in many ways penalize two income households. This labor market that employs fewer women than France, Great Britain and Scandinavia, and in which less than four percent of women reach top executive positions, is coming under increasing fire not only from women?s rights advocates, but from business and management circles as well.
See NORA FITZGERALD, Chicago Tribune, April 23, 2002