What sexism means

On 27 March 2019 the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers adopted Recommendation CM/Rec(2019)1 on preventing and combating sexism, which the Council calls the first internationally agreed definition. Sexism is any act, gesture, image, word, practice or behaviour based on the idea that a person or group is inferior because of their sex. What counts is what it aims at or causes: violated dignity or rights, a hostile or humiliating environment, or reinforced gender stereotypes. Glick and Fiske (1996) distinguished hostile sexism, open hostility towards women, from benevolent sexism, a well-meaning attitude that still sorts women by gender roles.

How it shows up in the office

One event proves nothing; repetition, context and effect count. Examples are interrupted contributions, the expectation that one person, usually a woman, handles mood, birthdays or minutes (the colloquial "Büromutti" role), and gender-related jokes, which the Council of Europe names as sexism at work. Babcock and colleagues (2017) found that women volunteer more often for tasks with little promotion value. Sue and colleagues (2007) describe microaggressions, brief everyday indignities.

On motherhood, the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) treats less favourable treatment because of pregnancy or maternity as direct discrimination (section 3(1)). Correll, Benard and Paik (2007) found that mothers were rated lower, fathers not. For 2025 Destatis reports an unadjusted gender pay gap of 16 per cent and an adjusted one of 6 per cent.

Sexism and the AGG

Sexism is a descriptive term; the AGG is a legal framework with narrower conditions. Direct discrimination is less favourable treatment on grounds of a protected characteristic (section 3(1)); indirect discrimination is seemingly neutral rules that particularly disadvantage people with a characteristic, unless justified (section 3(2)). Harassment and sexual harassment count too (section 3(3) and (4)). Not every sexist remark meets these conditions, but under section 12(1) employers must take the necessary preventive measures. An amendment bill (printed paper 21/6178) had not been passed on 13 November 2026.

Men are affected too: in the IAB survey of December 2024 (2,814 employees), about 20 per cent reported cases of sexual harassment in their closer working environment, 24 per cent of women and 15 per cent of men.

Where to get help

  • "Violence against Women" helpline: 116 016, around the clock, free, confidential and anonymous.
  • Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency: 0800 546 546 5, Monday to Thursday 9am to 3pm, beratung@ads.bund.de.
  • Complaints body at work (section 13 AGG). Claims must be asserted in writing within two months (section 15 AGG). This is not legal advice.

This is a summary. The full German article with all details is at the same address under the German site.