die
Frauenquote
📜 What does "die Frauenquote" mean?
Die Frauenquote refers to a legal or internal company regulation that stipulates a certain minimum percentage of positions (especially in management boards, supervisory boards, or electoral lists) must be filled by women.
The goal is to promote gender equality for women in professional life and politics by dismantling structural disadvantages.
There are no different meanings based on the article, as "Frauenquote" is always feminine.
⚠️ The term is often the subject of societal and political debate.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
📊 Grammar in Detail: die Frauenquote
The noun "Frauenquote" is feminine. The article is "die".
Declension
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Frauenquote | eine Frauenquote |
| Genitive | der Frauenquote | einer Frauenquote |
| Dative | der Frauenquote | einer Frauenquote |
| Accusative | die Frauenquote | eine Frauenquote |
| Case | Definite Article |
|---|---|
| Nominative | die Frauenquoten |
| Genitive | der Frauenquoten |
| Dative | den Frauenquoten |
| Accusative | die Frauenquoten |
Examples ✍️
- Die Einführung der Frauenquote wurde im Parlament diskutiert.
(The introduction of the gender quota was discussed in parliament.) - Manche Unternehmen führen freiwillig eine Frauenquote ein.
(Some companies introduce a gender quota voluntarily.) - Dank der Frauenquote stieg der Anteil von Frauen in Aufsichtsräten.
(Thanks to the gender quota, the proportion of women on supervisory boards increased.) - Die Partei befürwortet die Frauenquote für Wahllisten.
(The party supports the gender quota for electoral lists.)
🗣️ How "Frauenquote" is Used
The term "Frauenquote" is primarily used in discussions about gender equality, labor market policy, and corporate governance.
- Context: Politik (legislation, parties), Wirtschaft (supervisory boards, management positions), Gesellschaftliche Debatten (social debates on justice, equal opportunity).
- Typical verbs: einführen (to introduce), beschließen (to decide), fordern (to demand), erfüllen (to fulfill), diskutieren (to discuss), kritisieren (to criticize), ablehnen (to reject).
- Comparison: Similar concepts include "Geschlechterquote" (gender quota, more general) or more specific quota regulations. It differs from pure support programs (Förderprogrammen) as it sets a binding target figure.
Depending on the viewpoint, its use can be connoted positively (as a necessary instrument for equality) or critically (as interference with merit principles or potential discrimination against men).
🧠 Mnemonics for Frauenquote
Article Mnemonic: Think of "die Frau" (the woman). A quota for "die Frau" is die Frauenquote.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine a "quote" or a specific "quota" (portion) of positions reserved for Frauen (women). That's the Frauenquote.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Terms)
- Geschlechterquote: Gender quota (more general, refers to both genders).
- Quotierung: The act of setting a quota.
- Mindestbeteiligung von Frauen: Minimum participation of women (descriptive).
- (Colloquial/critical): Quotenfrau (often derogatory, referring to a woman perceived to have obtained a position solely due to the quota)
Antonyms (Opposing Concepts)
- Leistungsprinzip / Meritokratie: Merit principle / Meritocracy (filling positions based solely on qualification and performance, often cited as a counterargument to quotas).
- Männerdomäne: Male domain (the situation the quota aims to change).
- Freiwillige Selbstverpflichtung: Voluntary commitment (companies setting goals without legal obligation).
⚠️ Similar but Different Terms
- Gleichstellungspolitik: Equality policy (umbrella term for all measures promoting equality; the quota is just one possible instrument).
- Frauenförderung: Promotion of women (measures supporting women, not necessarily involving a fixed quota).
😄 A Little Joke
Fragt der Chef den männlichen Bewerber: "Was halten Sie von der Frauenquote?"
Antwortet der Bewerber: "Prinzipiell gut, aber ich hoffe, Sie haben auch eine Männerquote für die Kaffeeküche?"
(The boss asks the male applicant: "What do you think of the gender quota?"
The applicant replies: "Good in principle, but I hope you also have a male quota for the coffee kitchen?")
✍️ Poem about the Quota
Die Quote kommt, mal laut, mal leise,
auf die politische Dienstreise.
Für Frauen soll'n die Türen offen sein,
in den Konzern, den Club, den Verein.
MMehr Vielfalt, so das hohe Ziel,
ob's wirklich hilft? Da scheiden sich viel'.
Die Debatte, sie wird heiß geführt,
hat die Quote uns schon gut kurvt?
(The quota comes, sometimes loud, sometimes quiet,
on the political business trip.
For women, the doors should be open,
into the corporation, the club, the association.
More diversity, that's the lofty goal,
whether it truly helps? Opinions differ greatly.
The debate, it's hotly contested,
has the quota steered us well already?)
🧩 Little Riddle
Ich bin ein Anteil, festgeschrieben,
bin oft geliebt und oft zerrieben.
Ich soll für Fairness sorgen, heißt es oft,
auf Führungsposten wird gehofft.
Mal bin ich Pflicht, mal nur ein Plan,
ich öffne Frauen manche Bahn.
Was bin ich? (Lösung: die Frauenquote)
(I am a share, set in stone,
often loved and often ground down.
I'm meant to ensure fairness, it's often said,
for leadership posts, hopes are spread.
Sometimes I'm mandatory, sometimes just a plan,
I open many paths for woman.)
(What am I?
Solution: the Frauenquote / gender quota for women)
💡 Other Interesting Facts
Word Composition
The word "Frauenquote" is a compound noun (Kompositum), composed of:
- Frauen (plural of Frau = woman)
- Quote (from Latin "quota (pars)" = "how much (part)", meaning share, fixed amount)
Context
The discussion and implementation of Frauenquoten (gender quotas for women) have gained significance in Germany and many other countries, especially within the European Union, over recent decades. They affect various areas such as supervisory boards of large companies (Aufsichtsräte), political bodies, and sometimes the public sector (öffentlicher Dienst).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Frauenquote?
The noun "Frauenquote" is always feminine. The correct article is "die". There is only this one form: die Frauenquote.