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Ex-JuLi boss Ria Schröder
Photo: Britta Pedersen / picture alliance / dpa
SPIEGEL:
Ms. Schröder, did you laugh when your party leader Christian Lindner joked sexistically about the slain General Secretary Linda Teuteberg?
Schröder:
No.
SPIEGEL:
There was already a debate about sexism in your party with Rainer Brüderle.
Does the FDP have a particular problem?
Schröder:
No, the FDP has not leased that for itself, rather we have a societal problem with sexism.
With us in the FDP there is sexism - like in every other party, like in every sports club and so on.
"A mistake a woman makes is criticized three times more than a mistake a man"
Ria Schröder
SPIEGEL:
Now you are making it a little easy for yourself.
Schröder:
Wait a minute!
Our problem is different.
We live in a society where a man can expect to get a laugh for a sexist joke.
If no one had laughed at the party conference, it would have become clear that the sentence had no punch line and that it didn't deserve a laugh.
SPIEGEL:
Was it more difficult for Linda Teuteberg in your party because she is a woman?
Schröder:
No.
SPIEGEL:
Do you regret that the post has not been filled with a woman again?
Schröder:
I don't want to rate anyone based on gender alone.
It's about who has which skills.
I generally like mixed teams because women bring a certain point of view into teams.
Sure, that can't be the only decisive factor, but it can be an important one.
SPIEGEL:
Does that mean that you don't currently see a woman in the FDP who has the same qualifications and experience as the new General Secretary Volker Wissing?
Schröder:
We have suitable women for every position.
But some of them already have other tasks.
Bettina Stark-Watzinger, for example, wants to become the FDP leader in Hesse in November.
SPIEGEL:
Your new Secretary General Wissing is still party leader in Rhineland-Palatinate and Minister of Economics.
Schröder:
Daniela Schmitt will be followed by a woman.
In principle, I don't think much of the accumulation of offices.
In the case of women, there is also the fact that they often take on more tasks anyway, for example in the family or at work.
Incidentally, women are often measured by double standards.
A mistake a woman makes is criticized three times more than a man's mistake.
A woman's success is celebrated ten times less than that of a man.
If Andreas Scheuer were a woman, he would have resigned long ago.
SPIEGEL:
Have you experienced sexism in the FDP yourself?
Schröder:
Of course, just as I experience sexism in everyday life almost every day.
At first this has nothing to do with the FDP, but is a problem for society as a whole that occurs in every party, every association, everywhere.
For example when I cross the street and someone whistles after me.
When I get messages like this on Instagram: "Hey honey, we don't even want to get to know each other. You have such a nice smile."
I ask myself: What does he dare to call me "sweetie" and evaluate my appearance?
If you answer that you are not interested, insults below the belt quickly follow.
Women experience this every day.
It would help us as a society if men themselves started discussing with their friends and vetoed when they observe sexism.
SPIEGEL:
Can you give us an example from politics?
Schröder:
I find the processes in the Berlin constituency of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf astonishing.
Sawsan Chebli competes in the SPD preselection and the Governing Mayor Michael Müller also wants and is bothered by it because he shied away from running against Kevin Kühnert in his home constituency.
It is whispered that Chebli is bold and not humble enough.
Politically, I think differently than Ms. Chebli, but I support her in her fight against such attacks.
Nobody has to justify themselves to run in a democratic election.
"Unfortunately, it still happens far too rarely that sexism has consequences"
Ria Schröder
SPIEGEL:
Most recently, Chebli was sexistically insulted in a right wing magazine, women in particular showed solidarity with her, and in the end the publisher of this magazine had to announce his retirement from chairing the renowned Ludwig Erhard Foundation.
So sexism has consequences - a textbook example for you?
Schröder:
Unfortunately, it still happens far too rarely that sexism has consequences.
We need a clear agreement that verbal and physical assaults are not tolerated and that those who behave in this way have disqualified themselves for elections and lists.
SPIEGEL:
As the JuLi chairman, you wanted to ensure that more women join the FDP.
Not much has happened.
Why is that?
Schröder:
As an individual in politics, I can only help push long-term developments for the better.
At JuLis, for example, with the "Female Future Forum" we have created a format that is aimed at women and aims to promote them in the party.
Many state associations have taken on this, and the federal party also wants to do it.
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Ria Schröder and Linda Teuteberg
Photo: Bernd von Jutrczenka / picture alliance / dpa
SPIEGEL:
There are now quite a few men in your party, including Christian Lindner, who have indicated that they are ready for a women's quota.
But why is it rejected by many FDP women?
Schröder:
You can't say that categorically.
It annoys me that the whole debate revolves around the miserable quota for women.
Instead, we have to make sure that the list and constituency candidates are drawn up - for example for the federal election - that the good women are reassigned to promising places and that new women are also given the opportunity to run for office.
The rigid quota debate in the FDP, on the other hand, is a phantom discussion.
SPIEGEL:
What do you think of dual leadership, as is demanded by some in the FDP?
Schröder:
Structural changes are an opportunity, but we shouldn't kid ourselves.
If we write this in our statutes at the next party congress in 2021, this clause would not apply until the next chairman election in 2023.
In principle, I advocate separating the party and parliamentary group chairmanship.
We should implement this promptly, in time for the 2021 federal election. That would ensure that we have more faces in the front row who can address different people with different styles.
SPIEGEL:
You want Lindner to give up a post?
Schröder:
It's not about Christian Lindner, but about how the FDP can get more attention in the future.
Unfortunately, we have had the experience that only those who are in the front row or who are particularly loud rumbling receive attention.
For example Wolfgang Kubicki, many people think he's great and that's okay too.
But I hope that people with a different tongue can also be seen more clearly.
The FDP has to expand.
Women are there, they just have to become more visible.
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