Gender parity in Germany: How much did Merkel pave the way?

Labels, both good and bad, often mean little. That’s why Angela Merkel’s refusal to call herself a feminist hasn’t gotten in the way of women rising to power in today’s Germany.

Angela Merkel, the former German chancellor, refused to call herself a feminist. But after stepping down last year following 16 years in power, it’s now clear her strongest legacy might be the path she’s paved for other women.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz has appointed eight women to his Cabinet, including the key positions of foreign affairs, security, and defense in Europe’s powerhouse economy. That makes the gender balance in his cabinet exactly 50-50.

“We’re sure it’s the right thing to do ... that represents the society in which we live, in which men and women each make up half of the population and in which it should be normal that women have half the power,” Mr. Scholz said in a press conference last month announcing the picks.

There’s much to be done, such as narrowing the gender pay gap, providing paternity leave, and boosting more women into STEM fields. But many experts view gender parity in the Cabinet as an important first step toward progress for Germany, which has lagged on many of the traditional metrics.