Double standards on parental status

Kate Connolly’s article on Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer’s election as leader of Germany’s CDU party was concise and informative, providing insight into the vocational and ministerial experience and personal priorities of the three candidates. It was disappointing, however, to find AKK’s parental status described but not that of Merz or Spahn. Many aspects of the new leader’s life, beliefs, and experience will shape her success or otherwise as a party leader, and knowing about some of these is relevant to the general public. But is knowing how many children she has relevant? Perhaps editors should use the same criteria as used in job recruitment: do we need to know about the parenting status of women candidates and, if so, why?
Annie Rhodes
Edinburgh

• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com

• Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters

• Do you have a photo you’d like to share with Guardian readers? Click here to upload it and we’ll publish the best submissions in the letters spread of our print edition