Gendering The European Union

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Description

An exploration of European integration as seen through a gender lens. This book looks at integration theories, institutional relationships, enlargement, the development of gender law and the role of formal actors, scholars and expert networks in the EU policy-making process. With a focus on gender mainstreaming as a new approach to gender policy.

Review: 'Given the current mood of disenchantment with the EU as a political system, this book provides a timely reminder that for the last 40 years, the EU has acted as a social innovator particularly in the field of gender justice. Many of the provisions for women that we now take for granted have their origins in measures adopted by the EU or fought for in the European Court of Justice.

As this book ably illustrates, this provided a platform for policy debate and expansion both into new fields and into new cultural arenas. The picture is a complex one with the relative simplicity of the early days being replaced by a more complex policy frames and more difficult contexts. The great value of this book is that it traces this story not only in the traditional fields of employment and childcare but in new areas such as agriculture, research and technology and migration policy.' - Catherine Hoskyns, Professor, University of Coventry, UK 'In Gendering the European Union the editors have assembled an impressive range of experts and powerful arguments for the importance of the European project for gender equality.

The volume turns a wealth of new research into a readable and insightful analysis of the gendered nature of EU institutions and the concrete gender outcomes of EU policymaking. The authors also remind us that the quest for a more inclusive society is fragile under the current conditions of global economic crisis, making this book a must-read for students, scholars, and practitioners interested in the future of gender politics, and, more generally, the future of the European Union.' - Sabine Lang, Associate Professor, Henry M.

Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington, USA 'This book is a must for any European student or scholar. The authors and editors succeed in making a convincing case skilfully and correctly arguing for including a gender analysis into all studies on European integration. Written and edited by leading scholars, this book deserves wide attention and has the potential to become a classic.

It not only provides for a better understanding of the theoretical approaches underpinning the European gender analysis over the last 30 years, but it also offers detailed case studies in new policy domains, which help the reader understand the dynamics of European policy making from a gender perspective, making a complex study very approachable.

It is feminist analysis and scholarship at its best.' - Barbara Helfferich, European Policy Director, Wildlife Conservation Society.PreviouslySecretary General, European Women's Lobby and Member of the Cabinet of the European Social Affairs Commissioner.