Because of the EU's limited mandate to advance the single market and economic integration, for decades EU gender politics have focused primarily on narrowly defined workplace issues, specifically anti-discrimination and equal treatment measures. However in the 1990s the agenda has broadened to include reconciliation of family and work, violence. The main actors shaping this policy area have been the Equality Unit in the Commission, the Parliament Committee On Women's Rights and Equal Opportunities, and several European wide NGOs.

Learning Objectives

  1. Describe and examine critically the main policy areas of EU gender equality politics
  2. Find out more about the agenda of the NGOs.
  3. Learn about the measures taken to combat violence in the EU.

Study Guide

  1. Print pdf version of study guide.
  2. What are the current women’s or gender issues on the agenda of the Commission?
  3. Read also the most recent newsletter FEMM of the European Parliament Committee On Women's Rights and Equal Opportunities.
  4. Visit the European Women's Lobby (EWL). What are their main goals?
  5. What are the main goals of the NGO KARAT?
  6. Find out about the Commission's Daphne Program on Violence against Women.
  7. Familiarize yourself with the situation of gender relations, distribution of Gender & Time, Families in Europe (EuroStat publications).
  8. Extra Credit: Watch the interview with Anita Gradin, Swedish legislator and diplomat, former European Commissioner. Globetrotter, Conversations with History, Berkeley University (30 min.)