Participants contributed both association-level perspectives and hands-on operational experience from the German wine sector on the development of the future Observatory.
Discussions revealed deeply rooted structural gender inequalities, particularly in leadership and governance. Participants described male-dominated boards, persistent barriers to women’s advancement, and pronounced confidence gaps shaped by gendered expectations. A striking cultural pattern emerged around competition among women, encapsulated in the perception that “there is room for only one successful woman per region.” In addition, participants highlighted exclusionary practices within prestigious sector organisations, where access for women often remains tied to family inheritance rather than open professional pathways.
The focus group also shed light on communication dynamics and implicit bias. Women’s emotional expression and assertiveness were reported to be judged more harshly than men’s, influencing how leadership and conflict are perceived. Participants raised serious concerns about the underreporting of sexualised violence. Feelings of shame, fear of stigma, and concerns about credibility were identified as major deterrents, even in anonymous survey formats, leading to systematic gaps in the data.
Overall, the German focus group confirmed that capturing the full complexity of gender-based violence in the wine sector requires great sensitivity, nuance, and trust-building.