Young women perceive themselves today as equally entitled, active citizens of society. Women's interest in helping to shape politics and society has grown. The German Women's Council, an umbrella organization of about 100 German women's associations, commemorates this year the 100th anniversary of the death of Louise Otto-Peters, the founder of the first General Women's Association in 1865. The demand for equal rights is still very topical 130 years later. Women's legal status has improved slowly. Concrete steps have been the reform of the divorce law, the right to a child-upbringing holiday, and reform of the pension law. The Second Equal Rights Act in force since September 1994, which embodies important improvements for women in work and society, is a substantial advance. In-school and vocational training has become a taken-for-granted part of female life. However, women continue to have disproportionately smaller shares of senior positions in federal authorities. Fewer women are self-employed. They earn less than men and have more part-time positions and a higher unemployment rate. On the other hand, the Maternity Protection Act provides protection for pregnant working women and the Marriage Act reform of 1977 has improved the situation of the nonworking wife through pension equalization. The phrase "poverty is female" is increasingly losing its bite because of better legislation. (YLB)