Friedrich Merz: Three tips for the woman-not-understander

Actually, Friedrich Merz only had good things in the sense. At least you can believe that with a lot of benevolence. Because at an event of the “initiative boss: interior matter”, at which Merz appeared in Berlin, he criticized a very important point: at the top of many companies are almost only men – and too few women. But then the Federal Chancellor steps into a snap bar in which he has often kicked in the past: he expresses himself so clumsily that his actual message goes down and instead seems to confirm what has been liable for Merz ‘image for years – his supposed problem with women.

The situation was as follows: Merz gave a speech in front of dozens of entrepreneurs in a network that campaigns for equality of opportunities. The Chancellor called on corporate tours to ensure more equal opportunities. Then he said: “Of course I know that from my world. We men have a better talent and ability to form networks and to support each other.” Women should also help each other and support each other. “You have to form such networks as this and you have to make personal offers when it comes to the occupation of jobs.”

There it is again-the Merz fat bowl. The sentence “Men have a better talent to form networks” serves the picture that Merz often outlines: If they only make more effort and trust and take an example of men, it also works with career. Merz should be clear himself that this is not true – nevertheless he doesn’t seem to have a feeling for how inappropriate his choice of words is and how attacked it works to distribute advice on women without being asked. So here three advice to Merz:

1. Learn from old mistakes

Hardly any book has been written about the CDU politician in recent years, in which not a chapter “Merz and the problem with the women” or something like that. It always deals with the same topic: Merz tries to address the topic of equality, but often fails due to his choice of words. Examples: In an interview with RTL/NTV, Merz caused trouble in October last year, with a Defense Minister like Christine Lambrecht “we also do the women a favor”. In the spring of 2020, Merz made a joke in a round of primarily male listeners that it was probably no coincidence that current storm lows have female names. At the time of the statement, the deep “Sabine” was raging, while Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer explained her resignation.

The list of faux pas could be continued, but it should be noted that Merz does not shy away from macho sayings, where he could also score enough with a content. This can happen once or twice, but at the latest as a chancellor you should learn from old mistakes- or get better advice.

2. New office – new tasks

Merz is in the office of Chancellor for almost two months – and thus head of government of all Germans: male, female, diverse. Expressions such as: “The Bundestag is not a circus tent” when it comes to hoisting the rainbow flag on the Reichstag building, as well as “We men have a better talent and ability to form networks”. It may be that after less than 60 days in office he is still more opposition head than chancellor in careless moments. But half of the citizens are: women. Even if this parity is not reflected in his party and faction.

3. Listen first, then talk

From Merz no more feminist has to become, that would also be not very credible. However, he can follow a Bundeswehr investment from Afghanistan: ask first-then shoot. Translated, this means: clarify the situation peacefully before you fir. Or just listen to women. Then Merz, who has taken his fortune in the world of commercial enterprises dominated by men, may understand better why he met so few women there during the management. Because structural deficits in childcare and traditional family patterns are responsible for this and not the poor talent of women. This is exactly where Merz was in his speech: with a women’s network of entrepreneurs who are there to network.

These women’s networks have teamed up as a kind of opposite pole to the men’s -dominated world of entrepreneurs, in which new personal details and career opportunities are often discussed on the golf course or in a beer. So places to which women usually have no access. It is therefore almost brazen to criticize them on a women’s network event that they were not so talented.

Women don’t need tips from men like Merz. But they need the ear and the sharp mind of the Chancellor – more than his sometimes loose mouth.

This text first appeared at NTV.de, which, like the star, is part of RTL Germany.