scholarly journals Gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in academia: successes and failures of the initiatives promoted by the European Union

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-40
Author(s):  
Rita Bencivenga ◽  
Cinzia Leone ◽  
Anna Siri
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Public Institutions ◽  
Gender Mainstreaming ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Academic Field ◽  
Scientific Debate ◽  
Diversity And Inclusion ◽  
Promote Gender Equality

Abstract The article summarises the scientific debate on the strengths and weaknesses of the strategies adopted by the European Union to promote gender equality in academia and the adoption of a gender perspective in research. The article focuses on introducing gender mainstreaming, promoting gender equality and structural change in research performing and financing organisations, and adopting gender action/equality plans. The discussion is structured around textual analysis of relevant EU acts, scientific literature, reports of EU funded research projects, communication and support actions. The authors discuss the critics of the various initiative and advance some considerations about what could support individuals and groups interested in promoting positive changes towards gender equality, diversity and inclusion in the academic field. The article relevance is linked to the innovation promoted by Horizon Europe, that requires all public institutions applying for Eu funding to have a Gender equality plan, and the risks that previous mistakes can be repeated hindering the process towards gender equality as in the recent past.

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.

Policy framing and resistance: Gender mainstreaming in Horizon 2020

2020 ◽  
pp. 135050682093549
Author(s):  
Bianka Vida
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Research And Development ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Gender Mainstreaming ◽  
Advisory Group ◽  
Framework Programme ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Policy Framing ◽  
Horizon 2020 ◽  
Policy Frame

Scholarship on gender mainstreaming (GM) in the European Union (EU) consistently highlights the disappointing implementation of gender mainstreaming. This article contributes to that discussion through the analysis of the first policy frame on gender equality in the work programmes of the EU’s Framework Programme for Research and Development, Horizon 2020, from 2014 until 2016. This article analyses how GM as a transformative strategy is contextualised by advisory group experts, and what is being achieved within Horizon 2020 work programmes. In opposition to the Commission’s rhetorical commitment to GM, this article demonstrates that Horizon 2020 work programmes exemplify a failure of implementing GM, further depoliticising gender equality in the Commission’s neoliberal context.

The issue of the ratio of women and men in central and local government: the European Union and Ukraine

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (324) ◽  
pp. 95-107
Author(s):  
Yaroslav Dyhal
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Gender Mainstreaming ◽  
The Political ◽  
The European Union ◽  
National Parliaments ◽  
Political Sphere ◽  
Representation Of Women ◽  
Governmental Institutions ◽  
High Level

Gender mainstreaming is an integral part of the process of building a democratic society, including in thepolitical sphere. In order to draw conclusions about gender equality in the political sphere, it is necessaryto constantly investigate the current situation. An indicator of gender equality in the political sphere is therepresentation of women and men in the governmental institutions. Therefore, there is a need to analyse thegender structure of central and local authorities in the European Union.The aim of the paper is to analyse the representation of women and men in elected authorities andgovernments of the European Union and Ukraine. The author explored the participation of men and womenin the European Parliament, national parliaments of European countries, national governmental authorities,regional and local parliaments of the EU and Ukraine.The gender structures of different authorities were compared. The countries with gender equality in thepolitical sphere and the countries with the largest imbalances were identified.The author analysed the factors that contributed to the establishment of equality in countries with indicatorsas close as possible to gender balance (Scandinavian countries). Among such factors the most interesting are:emancipation of women; high level of social development; institutional factors and legislation as incentives.A comparison of the gender structures of the central executive and legislative bodies and local councils ofUkraine and Poland was made.

scholarly journals The Current Situation and Potential Responses to Movements against Gender Equality in Ukraine

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olena Hankivsky ◽  
Marfa Skoryk
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Current Situation ◽  
Letter Writing ◽  
Gender Mainstreaming ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The Face ◽  
Ukrainian Society

Gender equality in Ukraine is facing resistance. Although this backlash is not uniquely Ukrainian, it can have profound consequences for Ukraine’s efforts to integrate into the European Union. This paper reveals various aspects of a movement called “Stop Gender,” examining letter writing campaigns, political lobbying and an anti-gender equality blog. It assesses the key arguments of the movement, considers their impact on gender mainstreaming efforts, and investigates what action might be taken in the face of growing anti-gender equality sentiments across all levels of Ukrainian society.

scholarly journals THE PRINCIPLE OF GENDER EQUALITY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION: DIMENSIONS AND THEIR CONTENT

2019 ◽  
pp. 39-44
Author(s):  
Kh. Rionidze
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
European Union ◽  
European Integration ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Gender Mainstreaming ◽  
Equal Treatment ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Equal Pay ◽  
Political Economic ◽  
The Eu

The topicality of this issue is related to the fact that the EU is founded on a set of values, including equality. Nowadays the attitude towards women in the society is significantly different from that of men. Unfortunately, inequality does not decline over time. The basic idea of gender equality is to provide both women and men with the same rights, opportunities and conditions for full-fledged development. The article is devoted to the dimensions of the principle of gender equality in the European Union, which is important for Ukraine due to the conditions of European integration. The dimensions of gender equality cover the political, economic, civil, social and cultural spheres of our live activity, including achieving gender equality in employment, equal pay for equal work, gender balance in decision making, harmonization of professional and family life, education and «gender mainstreaming». That is why research and analysis of gender equality's dimensions in the EU and defining the legal aspects of their regulation are relevant to the legal system of Ukraine. Over the past few decades, the EU has notably worked for equal treatment legislation, gender mainstreaming and specific measures for the advancement of women. Moreover, the EU has defined the following dimensions of gender equality: equal economic independence for women and men; equal pay for work of equal value; equality in decision-making; dignity, integrity and ending gender-based violence; and promoting gender equality beyond the EU. The dimension of gender equality is a strategy for making women's as well as men's concerns and experiences an integral dimension of the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes in all political, economic and social spheres, so that women and men benefit equally and the inequality is not perpetuated. Although the EU has achieved positive results in protecting human rights, the work is still continuing in this direction. The idea of gender equality is an integral part of equality as a general principle, development and peace in the world. Without this principle, it is impossible to establish the basis for democracy, freedom, justice and tolerance. Recently, the principle of gender equality is getting paramount importance for Ukraine, as one of the conditions for successful European integration.

scholarly journals eu-alc Cooperation Efforts to Achieve Millennium Development Goal 3: “Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women”

InterNaciones ◽  
2018 ◽  
pp. 39-57
Author(s):  
Charles Berthon
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Wage Inequality ◽  
Equal Access ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Economic Decision Making ◽  
Promote Gender Equality ◽  
Women And Girls

Gender inequality as well as violence against women is a major problem in Latin America and the Caribbean. It is manifested in issues such as gender violence, lower political participation by women, employment and wage inequality, female illiteracy and the difficulty women have gaining access to full sexual and reproductive health. The Latin American continent has achieved progress towards gender equality and women’s empowerment under the Millennium Development Goals, including equal access to primary education between girls and boys. However women and girls continue to suffer high rates of discrimination and violence in most Latin American countries.In this specific region of the world, mentalities of both civil and political actors of the society, need to fully process the fact that gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable society. Women’s economic empowerment is defined as a transformational process, in which women gain increased access to and power over economic assets and economic decisions. Through programs like Eurosocial and alfa III financed by the European Commission, the European Union has been seeking to increase its cooperation with Latin America in this domain. Some projects like Equality, carried out within the framework of these programs, directly or indirectly aimed at providing women and girls with equal access to education, health care, decent work, and representation in political and economic decision-making processes.Achieving these goals would certainly contribute to develop more sustainable economies and benefit societies and the population on its whole, as it partially did already. Nevertheless it has been made clear over the years, with a low financial aid dedicated to the problem, that this aspect of the cooperation was not the very first priority of the European Union in Latin America. As for today, 17 years after setting the millennium goals, one thing is sure: there is yet a lot to be done to promote gender equality and women empowerment in Latin America.

scholarly journals Eliminating the secondary earner bias. Policy lessons from the introduction of partial individual taxation in Sweden in 1971

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Åsa Gunnarsson ◽  
Martin Eriksson
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Labor Market ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Union Member ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Promote Gender Equality ◽  
The Common ◽  
European Union Member States

Abstract This paper examines the different elements included in the Swedish partial individual taxation reform in 1971. The purpose is to identify what policy lessons this reform holds for contemporary tax policy in the European Union member states that currently apply joint tax and benefit provisions. Even though contemporary circumstances have changed in relation to the historical context for Swedish reform, the common strand is that the provisions create both inactivity incentives on the labor market and low income traps for secondary earners. We suggest that a shift to individual taxation should be a part of family and social policies that promote gender equality, and that in turn should be consolidated within a sustainable idea about tax fairness.

Gender Equality Policies and European Union Politics

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Fiig
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
The Other ◽  
Gender Mainstreaming ◽  
Equal Treatment ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Political Commitment ◽  
Multiple Sources ◽  
The One ◽  
The Eu

The European Union (EU) has been characterized as a “gender regime” with its distinctive patterns of gender (in)equalities and path dependencies. Gender equality policies have developed as a genuine policy field over the past decades from a single treaty article to a comprehensive legal and political framework dealing with multiple sources of discrimination. Besides, a range of other policies have got gendered effects, which adds to the debates about gender equality. Gender equality is often presented as a foundational value of the EU with reference to the Treaty of Amsterdam and Lisbon. Research has pointed out that it is an important aspect of the foundational myth of the EU. The development of gender policies has been uneven and met by resistance. However, a general conclusion is that EU institutions have been important catalysts in shaping women’s economic, political, and social equality in Europe and in putting equality rights into effect. The article presents some of the historical, political, and sociological interpretations of the EU’s gender equality policies. The development of actual gender equality policies is described in terms of the following phases: the 1970s (associated with women’s civil and economic rights and equal treatment), the 1980s (equal opportunities, positive action), and the 1990s (gender mainstreaming in the whole union and for all policy areas). Since the 2000s, a fourth phase of new policies against multiple discrimination has been developing. These different stages of EU gender policy continue to coexist. The analysis approaches gender equality policies as situated between concerns for gender equality and multiple discrimination on the one hand and priorities of economy and finance on the other. Critical voices in the literature have pointed out that these priorities have outperformed ideas about gender equality. In the aftermath of the financial crisis, EU austerity policies represent a “critical juncture” that could undo the long-term progress achieved in gender equality in Europe. Besides, gender equality policies suffer from a gap between institutionalization on the one hand and a lack of consistency and full political commitment on the other. In the context of the contemporary crises in the EU, the paper investigates the development and status of gender equality policies and adds to the literature through its critical focus. A key point is that dynamic gender relations, multiple discrimination, and women’s various roles in society matter for understanding the EU and European integration. This raises questions about the EU’s role as a driving force for gender equality and against multiple discrimination. What happened to gender equality policies and to gendered effects of other policies as a result of the various crises in the EU?

Gender mainstreaming in the European Union: broadening the possibilities for gender equality and/or an inherently constrained exercise?

2014 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia S. O'Connor
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Gender Mainstreaming ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Gender Justice ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Early Adopters ◽  
Policy Practice ◽  
Documentary Analysis ◽  
The Eu

The European Union (EU) was an influential voice in advocating the adoption of gender mainstreaming by the 4th United Nations World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995. Since then gender mainstreaming has become a central policy plank of gender justice globally, but progress has been variable and modest. This paper examines the unfolding of gender mainstreaming in the EU, which was one of the early adopters as reflected by its commitment to gender mainstreaming in 1996. The objective is to identify patterns that may have implications for gender justice on a broader scale. The lenses are the European Employment Strategy dating from 1997 and targeted gender equality initiatives dating from the Community Framework on Gender Equality (2001–2005). Drawing on documentary analysis of these sources constraints on moving form aspiration to policy practice and outcome are identified. These are intensified by the multilevel structure of decision-making in the EU, which means that commitments agreed at the EU level are not pursed with the same fervour by all member states. But constraints are inherent in gender mainstreaming because of the contested and vague nature of the concept, the context of cross-cutting inequalities and the structural basis of these inequalities.

scholarly journals Gender Impact of Interregional Trade

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (11) ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
Carolina Pavese
Keyword(s):  
Trade Liberalization ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Gender Inequality ◽  
Policy Instrument ◽  
Gender Mainstreaming ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Interregional Trade ◽  
Association Agreement ◽  
Promote Gender Equality ◽  
The Eu

After two decades of negotiations, the European Union (EU) and Mercosur celebrated a new Association Agreement in 2019. Structured around three pillars (political dialogue, cooperation, and trade), the deal is still pending ratification but has raised strong criticism. Most concerns address the effect of trade liberalization on social and environmental agendas. This article contributes to this debate, conducting qualitative analysis on the agreement's potential impact on gender equality in the EU and Mercosur. Departing from the feminist scholarship assumption that trade has an unavoidable effect on gender, this article argues that interregional trade agreements can be a helpful policy instrument to promote gender equality. Nevertheless, this research demonstrates that, so far, the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement has neglected this opportunity. The provisional text does not reflect a gender mainstreaming approach, lacking the appropriate mechanisms to manage its effects on women. As a result, the new interregional trade liberalization instrument risks widening gender inequality in both regions. Nevertheless, this research demonstrates that, so far, the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement has neglected this opportunity. The provisional text does not reflect a gender mainstreaming approach, lacking the appropriate mechanisms to manage its effects on women. As a result, the new interregional trade liberalization instrument risks widening gender inequality in both regions.

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