Altering realities is essential for the attainment of utopias
In the heart of Germany, Claudia Salwik, the spokesperson for gender equality in the SPD city council faction, is leading the charge for a more just and humane society. A world free from various forms of oppression, as Salwik described on International Women's Day, is the vision she is working tirelessly to realise.
The issue of gender inequality is starkly evident, with women more likely to be victims of violence just because of their gender, resulting in deadly consequences every third day. Salwik's mission is to shatter the glass ceilings that have prevented women from reaching their full potential, and to unlock the untapped potential that society has been missing out on.
One of the key areas of focus is the structures of wage labour. Salwik believes that these structures should be designed for the benefit of people, not at their expense. This is reflected in the underrepresentation and underpayment of so-called 'women's professions', which are often system-relevant and essential for society's functioning. Women, who are increasingly professionalising themselves, are still paid about 18% less than men.
Women's struggle is not confined to the workplace. Girls and women with disabilities experience violence two to three times more frequently than the average population, with almost half of them experiencing sexual violence. Salwik is advocating for awareness campaigns and services to prevent such violence and provide safe spaces for women affected by it.
The demand for these services is high, with finding a place in a women's shelter currently harder than finding a daycare spot with adequate care times and keys. The state government has promised to fund five more facilities for women's shelters, but the demand is still far from met.
Salwik also emphasises the need for men to step up and take responsibility for the education and care of their children, both financially and through unpaid care work. Men need to break free from old masculinity images and have the courage to face their own feelings and insecurities. An understanding of love and partnership that is not based on possessive claims and clearly rejects and condemns partner violence and violence against women is required.
The path to the feminist utopia is a shared responsibility. If this path fails, we as a society fail together. Salwik's efforts align with broader SPD and German policy initiatives, such as the Gender Equality Strategy that ran from 2020 to 2025, focusing on equal employment opportunities, work-life balance, care work recognition, and combating violence against women.
As we strive towards a more equal and just society, Salwik's voice is a beacon of hope, advocating for improved legal frameworks and funding for gender equality measures at the city level, supporting policies to increase women's participation in the workforce and better support care workers, and promoting awareness campaigns and services to prevent violence against women. Her work is a testament to the power of individual action in driving systemic change.
- Claudia Salwik, the spokesperson for gender equality in the SPD city council faction, is advocating for science and education-and-self-development in the realm of mental-health, particularly addressing the issue of gender inequality.
- In the workplace-wellness sector, Salwik is campaigning for policy-and-legislation changes to equalize wages in occupations traditionally dominated by women, which are often system-relevant and essential for society's functioning.
- Recognizing the critical need for health-and-wellness measures, Salwik is pushing for legislation against violence against women and children, particularly girls and women with disabilities who are disproportionally affected.
- To address this pressing issue, Salwik is proposing awareness campaigns and services to ensure general-news coverage and increase access to safe spaces for women who have experienced violence.
- Salwik's efforts in career-development extend to politics, as she is promoting policies that aim to increase women's participation in the workforce and better support care workers, emphasizing the shared responsibility in achieving a more equal and just society.
