Baerbock calls for more cheerful women in power

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is urging women to embrace their confidence and assert themselves more forcefully in the political arena. In an interview with "Süddeutsche Zeitung," Baerbock stated, "We women will not apologize or stop being confident, successful, and cheerful at the same time." She observed that for some men, seeing cheerful women in positions of power is not yet a given, but rather "obviously the worst trigger." However, she added, "We are now too many" to be easily dismissed.

Baerbock drew a parallel to her own experience when her candidacy for the UN General Assembly presidency concluded. While her bid faced significant criticism, her designated successor, Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, has not encountered similar scrutiny. Baerbock attributes this difference to the additional scrutiny women politicians face. "With women, however, the more visible you become, the more additional lines of attack there are," she explained. "Then suddenly the voice is too high or the high heels. On social media, often with the addition: 'Whore' or 'Cunt.' Such comments simply don't happen to Robert Habeck or Friedrich Merz."

While acknowledging that misrepresentations and malicious discrediting do affect her, Baerbock revealed moments of doubt, questioning how much longer she could subject her children to such attacks. Yet, she found strength in other women who encouraged her to remain steadfast. "Especially when you realize that the goal of such smear campaigns is – especially to signal to other, especially young women: Don't you dare – it has led to more and more inner freedom for me," Baerbock concluded.

“

We women will not apologize or stop being confident, successful, and cheerful at the same time.