Download full text
(112.7Kb)
Citation Suggestion
Please use the following Persistent Identifier (PID) to cite this document:
https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-224764
Exports for your reference manager
Gender mainstreaming vs positive action: an ongoing conflict in EU gender equality policy
[journal article]
Abstract This article examines the development of a gender mainstreaming strategy in the EU by illustrating how this strategy was shaped by other than gender equality policy goals. Gender mainstreaming was originally launched in 1996 to promote gender equality in all EU policies, in the context of internatio... view more
This article examines the development of a gender mainstreaming strategy in the EU by illustrating how this strategy was shaped by other than gender equality policy goals. Gender mainstreaming was originally launched in 1996 to promote gender equality in all EU policies, in the context of international and European mobilization on women's issues. It was aimed to transform mainstream policies by introducing a gender equality perspective. However, it has been largely used as an alibi for neutralizing positive action. The successful implementation of positive action in political decision-making had challenged the gender distribution of political power over policy institutions and technical, human and financial resources. This led to policy softening and institutional weakening due to counteracting by the EU political and administrative hierarchies. The argument is based on text analyses of relevant Community acts and on direct observations of the policy process, based on personal working experiences in the European Commission... view less
Keywords
EU; affirmative action; gender mainstreaming; women's policy
Classification
Women's Studies, Feminist Studies, Gender Studies
European Politics
Free Keywords
European Commission; gender equality policies; positive action; women in political decision-making
Document language
English
Publication Year
2005
Page/Pages
p. 165-186
Journal
European Journal of Women's Studies, 12 (2005) 2
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/1350506805051236
Status
Postprint; peer reviewed
Licence
PEER Licence Agreement (applicable only to documents from PEER project)