scholarly journals Critical analysis of the role of the European Union on gender equality progress. The case of research policy

2021 ◽  
pp. 457-472
Author(s):  
Irene García Muñoz
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Research Policy ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Gender Policy ◽  
Optimistic Picture ◽  
Potential Improvement ◽  
And Gender ◽  
European Union Data

This article reviews how European policy in gender equality has generated an impact on the lives of European women since reporting and data has been compiled, analysing if there is a potential improvement that could be attributed to the existence of a supranational body and supranational policy. The article will identify some of the structures, regulations and gender policy in the European Union and its potential impact on member states. For that purpose, a wealth of knowledge, which has been developed in the last years by feminist and gender scholars, will be considered and reinterpreted highlighting the most relevant arguments, approaches and debates.  Similarly, I will draw on the European Union data and analysis available on the numerous reports developed by multiple EU institutions. Given the limitations of this study and the extensive reach of gender policy within the Union, after a general overview, I will focus briefly on the research sphere, where a series of developments have shown an optimistic picture, despite the possible critics to the level of engagement and effective leadership of the Union in this area

scholarly journals Policy evaluation and gender mainstreaming in the European Union: the perfect (mis)match?

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 277-294
Author(s):  
Rachel Minto ◽  
Lut Mergaert ◽  
María Bustelo
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Policy Evaluation ◽  
Research Policy ◽  
Current Approach ◽  
Gender Mainstreaming ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Implementation Phase ◽  
Better Regulation ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Social Agendas

This article assesses the ability of the European Commission’s current approach to policy evaluation to evaluate gender mainstreaming and, in turn, other cross-cutting social agendas (Articles 8–10 TFEU). Taking European Union research policy as a case study, through our analysis, we reveal mismatches between current evaluation standards adopted within the Better Regulation framework and requirements for effectively assessing progress towards cross-cutting social objectives, such as gender equality. The article concludes with a series of recommendations to overcome the identified shortcomings. Our analysis constitutes a key contribution to the development of feminist scholarship on the post-implementation phase of the policy process.

Gender mainstreaming in Europe: legislation and cultural changes

2019 ◽  
pp. 31-46
Author(s):  
Vera Lomazzi ◽  
Isabella Crespi
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Cultural Change ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Gender Mainstreaming ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Cultural Changes ◽  
Substantive Equality ◽  
The Eu

The exploration of the development of the gender mainstreaming strategy and its effect on, European legislation concerning gender equality, from its beginnings to today is the aim of this chapter.The focus is on the role of the European Union in promoting substantive equality for men and women improving legislation in the European Union context and favouring a cultural change in the gender equality perspective. Gender mainstreaming is analysed as the main legislative and cultural shift done for promoting gender equality in all European policies. Gender mainstreaming legislation requires the adoption of a gender perspective by all the central actors in the policy process and, even considering its limits and blunders, and is still the most crucial transnational strategy currently in existence that promotes gender equality in all domains of social life. The legislation enquiries raised at the beginning of the gender mainstreaming implementation process in the EU around 1996 focused on the potential role of the EU in bridging the gap between formal and substantive equality, until nowadays and most recent guidelines, are the issues of the discussion in the chapter.

scholarly journals Gender Equality in Europe; Developments with reference to Gender Pay Gap and Violence

2021 ◽  
Vol VI (I) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Zaheer Iqbal Cheema ◽  
Ali Nawaz ◽  
Jawwad Riaz
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Gender Pay Gap ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Pay Gap ◽  
Gender Parity ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
And Gender

The European Union has kept the agenda of gender equality at the front line of legislation and policy development. The research examined the policies and the efficacy of the European Union in endorsing gender equality and determines where the Union’s system has proved to be less effective. Despite the efforts by the European Union in addressing gender-related issues, a slow improvement has been indicated in achieving gender parity. Inequality persists in many domains of gender equality, including the gender pay gap and gender-based violence. Our research suggests that adequate attention in terms of relevance, effective implementation and funding must be given to all domains of gender equality.

Gender Policy

2020 ◽  
pp. 613-630
Author(s):  
Tània Verge
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
European Union ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Reproductive Rights ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Gender Policy ◽  
State Feminism ◽  
Multilevel Structure ◽  
Gender Regime ◽  
Sexual And Reproductive Rights

This chapter discusses how Spain transitioned from being a latecomer to an early-adapter country in the field of gender equality and LGBTI policy. Such transformation is assessed against the type of gender regime that has taken root in the country as regards the share of women in the workforce, the degree of inequality in employment, the reach and scope of public childcare provision, the levels of women’s representation in decision-making positions and the guarantee of sexual and reproductive rights. The chapter also looks at the implementation of state feminism, paying attention to the strength of both the regulatory framework on gender equality and of equality promotion institutions. In outlining major policy advances, it also examines how the European Union and the multilevel structure of Spain have shaped gender equality and LGBTI policy. Lastly, it discusses the extent to which conservative setbacks and gendered austerity measures have jeopardized progress in these policy areas, fuelling the mobilization of the women’s movement.

This Far, but No Further?

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 362-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Spehar
Keyword(s):  
Political Culture ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Women And Gender ◽  
Gender Policy ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Gender Equality Policy ◽  
The Eu ◽  
Strong Contrast

The European Union (EU) is one of the world’s most important policy promoters for gender equality. This article examines the benefits and limitations of EU gender equality policy making in two Western Balkan countries, Croatia and FYR Macedonia. Besides analyzing specific gender policy developments that can be attributed to the EU, particular focus is put on the women’s movement activists’ perceptions of the impact that accession may have on women and gender equality. The study demonstrates that while the Croatian and Macedonian EU accession processes have been beneficial to the introduction of new gender legislation and institutional mechanisms for the advancement of gender equality, the EU gender strategy has also shown serious limitations. Among these—and perhaps the most fundamental—is the strong contrast between stated goals and their actual implementation. I argue that unless profound institutional changes as well as changes in political culture take place in Croatia and Macedonia, the poor compliance with EU gender equality norms and policies will be hard to overcome.

scholarly journals Slipping Off or Turning the Tide? Gender Equality in European Union’s External Relations in Times of Crisis

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 322-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanna L Muehlenhoff ◽  
Anna van der Vleuten ◽  
Natalie Welfens
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Financial Crisis ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
World Politics ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
External Relations ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Economic And Financial Crisis

The European Union has faced several crises in the past decades, including the economic and financial crisis, Brexit, a migration, climate change and security crisis, and the latest COVID-19 crisis. In this context, feminist scholars have shown how the causes and effects of the economic and financial crisis are strongly gendered. Generally, this literature suggests that crises can open a window of opportunity for gender considerations but may also promote policies which exacerbate gendered inequalities. Yet, the impact of crises on the attention to gender equality in European Union’s external relations is still unknown. This is surprising, as the European Union has promised to mainstream gender in all external policies, and understands itself to be a normative power and gender actor in world politics. This Special Issue analyses how the European Union’s identification of crisis and its policy responses to crisis in different external policy fields are gendered. The introduction situates the Special Issue within existing scholarship, theorises the central concepts of this Special Issue – crisis, gender (equality) and the European Union identities – and highlights how the different contributions advance our understanding of how gender figures in European Union’s external relations in past, current and future times of crisis.

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