Karoline Herfurth denounces the “Powerfrau” myth and calls for paid care work

Actress Karoline Herfurth told the podcast “Mit den Waffeln einer Frau” that the popular image of a “Powerfrau” who effortlessly balances career and family is a harmful demand. She highlighted that unpaid domestic work makes a typical German woman's week total around 96 hours and argued that care work should be remunerated because society cannot function without it. Herfurth also called for a fundamental redesign of the labour market to benefit a broader population, not just a privileged few, and linked financial independence to gender‑equal partnerships.

She criticized the expectation that women should simultaneously excel at demanding professional roles, manage reproductive health, and plan children, describing the standard as “impossible.” The interview underscored her view that genuine independence requires societal changes, including compensation for unpaid care responsibilities.