ABSTRACT
The presence of women in economic elites in West Germany is rarer than in any other decision-making bodies in the society. The economic power elite of West Germany is a heterogeneous body, including chief executives of large corporations, leading officials of business associations, and leading trade-union officers. With the norms of equality not applied to corporation management there can be no discrepancy between norm and reality – no tensions promoting even a verbal protest that might bring about change. In West Germany the top management of large corporations is virtually an all male affair. The comparison of women in East and West Germany is interesting, because there are almost no women in prominent economic leadership positions in socialist East Germany also. During the years of postwar economic reconstruction in West Germany corporations were always looking for talented personnel, particularly to fill leadership roles.
