The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party asserts to be supportive of women’s rights, however, their policy program and social media presence convey an image that is contrary to this claim. They advocate a perception of humanity that strongly enforces conventional gender roles, opposes abortion, and elevates the concept of motherhood as an ideal political goal.
In the ongoing discourse about the AfD, aspects such as their immigration policy, allegations of anti-constitutionality, and party scandals often overshadow the potential repercussions of their electoral victories on more than half of the German population – the women. In a recent survey conducted by the Berlin-based organization Civey, 5,000 adult German respondents were asked the question: “Are you concerned that with the rise in AfD’s success, the advancements made in the sphere of gender equality might be rolled back?” The responses, which were revealed at a meeting of the “Frauen100” initiative in Berlin, showed a lack of consensus. 36 percent of the respondents expressed concern, with an additional 10 percent leaning towards agreement. On the other hand, 14 percent felt that it was unlikely, while 34 percent firmly believed that it would not happen. When asked to evaluate whether the AfD portrayed a positive or negative image of women, 27 percent of respondents perceived it as positive or somewhat positive. 23 percent of participants had mixed feelings, responding with “partly, partly.” Half of the surveyed population found the AfD’s image of women to be somewhat or very negative.
