ABSTRACT
In a strictly legal sense, Austrian women gained equal political rights when the First Republic was founded in 1918. A review of the number of women and the role they play in the public sphere clearly shows a deep rift between equality as a political principle and equality as social practice. Women’s “proper” sphere was the family, whereas politics and business were viewed as the spheres of men. In male-dominated decision-making processes, the principle of a quota system is an important strategy to increase female representation in politics and public employment. One general characteristic of Austrian politics is the distinct loyalty of the representatives to their political parties. The women’s organization affiliated with the Socialist Party and the autonomous women’s movement put pressure on governmental politics. Gender equality policies remove barriers to entry into the male-dominated public sphere and strive to treat both sexes as equals under the law.
