The big balance: what the women’s strike has achieved

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Four years ago, a violet wave rolled over Switzerland. Half a million women – teachers, mothers, women in leadership positions – took to the streets demanding equal pay, an end to violence against women and recognition of unpaid work. It was a historic day – one that would have a major impact on the next four years.

What has the 2019 women’s strike achieved? What about equality today? An overview.

equal pay

Equal pay for equal work – the participants of a 2021 “Annabelle” magazine survey saw the greatest need for action in this area. And rightly so: according to the latest pay structure survey, women earn on average CHF 1,500 less per month than their male colleagues.

Wage differences are narrowing, but very slowly. In 2012 a man earned 19.3 percent more than a woman, in 2020 this will be 18 percent.

Half of the pay gap can be explained by factors such as work experience or education: women receive less pay than men because they tend to choose low-paying jobs and because they are under-represented in management. The other half, on the other hand, points to possible discrimination.

The revised Gender Equality Act entered into force in July 2020. Companies with more than 100 employees are now required to conduct wage analyzes – but will not be penalized if they pay unequal wages. In May, the National Council accepted a proposal that for the first time provides for the possibility of fines. The Council of States then decides.

compatibility

As soon as women have their first child, their income drops drastically. This is evident from data from economics professor Josef Zweimüller of the University of Zurich. The maternity fine in Switzerland is 62 percent. Such an effect cannot be detected in the fathers.

After the birth of a child, women often work long days. This leads to financial dependence, says Susanne Nef (41) of the Equal Opportunities Office of the Canton of Zurich: “Even when the children are grown, only a third of women earn enough to support themselves.”

This has far-reaching consequences: “Women run an increased risk of poverty in old age,” says Nef. Nothing has changed since the women’s strike. In 2021, women received CHF 1,200 per month from the occupational pension scheme. For men it is 2100 francs. The reform of occupational pensions, approved by Parliament in the spring, aims to close this gap. An individual tax is also under consideration, which is intended to create incentives so that work also pays for the second earner – usually the woman. Both templates are controversial.

Also on the political agenda is day care costs, which are still very high in Switzerland compared to other European countries. The National Council wants to change that and decided this spring to subsidize childcare centers with about 700 million francs per year. The proposal must have a hard time in the Council of States.

representation

In the autumn 2019 elections – shortly after the women’s strike – the share of women in the National Council rose from 32 to 42 percent. Significantly more women are also represented in the Council of States: in 2015 their share was 15 percent; currently, at 28 percent, there are almost twice as many. In a European comparison, Switzerland moved from bottom to seventh place. A similar development took place at the cantonal level. While women made up only a quarter of cantonal parliaments in 2019, it is now a third.

The higher share of women is changing the political scene: in the current legislature, socio-political proposals such as marriage for all and paternity leave came through – also because of the higher share of women.

Women are also catching up in business. According to the Schilling report, the share of women on the boards of the largest Swiss companies has increased between 2019 and 2023: from 19 to 27 percent. The number is approaching the recommended target of 30 percent.

violence against women

Violence against women is ubiquitous. One in five women aged 16 and older has experienced sexual violence; every tenth woman has sex against her will; every two weeks a woman dies from domestic violence. And in recent years, the number of sexual assault crimes registered by the police has increased.

However, there are some indications that this is due to increased awareness and that women today are more confident about reporting their tormentors.

A lot has happened in the past four years. This spring, the Council of States approved a solution that modernizes sex criminal law. Under current law, a woman must have made credible during sex that she defended herself by any means necessary – otherwise it would not be considered rape. In the future, a “no” will suffice. In addition, the so-called «freezing», the shock stiffness, is recognized.

Victims of sexual violence will therefore be better protected by the law in the future. In an emotional process led by a group of women led by SP councilor Tamara Funiciello, parliament found a compromise that would have been unthinkable a few years ago.

The revision of the criminal law for sexual offenses has also led to a broad social debate that goes far beyond the law. “The subject is very topical today and the view on it has changed somewhat: in the perception, it is no longer necessarily a woman who is the victim of violence,” says Nef, head of the department.

Switzerland has also spent more money on protecting victims of sexual and domestic violence in recent years. There are more prevention programs, women’s shelters are better funded. From 2025 there will also be a 24-hour hotline for victims of violence.

Despite all the improvements, there are no legal remedies against stalking. There is a lack of data on domestic and sexual violence. In addition, two citizens’ initiatives are pending that want to limit the right to abortion.

Source:Blick