A report examined gender bias in progression to a range of gendered A level subjects in co-educational English schools, using data from the National Pupil Database. It said that almost half of co-educational state-funded schools were worsening the gender imbalance in the examined pairs of subjects (English and mathematics; biology and physics; and psychology and economics). The report recommended that gender imbalance should be included in the range of school performance indicators.
Source: Closing Doors: Exploring gender and subject choice in schools, Institute of Physics
Links: Report | IOP press release | press release | Education Minister's speech | ATL press release | BBC report
Date: 2013-Dec
An article examined spatial entrapment among women, focusing on dual-career households. Relative equality was found between career men and women in hours worked for an employer, particularly in professional occupations. But although a level of equality was present in many workplaces, gender inequity within the home persisted. Women, on average, worked closer to their place of residence. School-age dependent children presented a particular constraint. Women were spatially entrapped by household responsibilities, with potentially severe career implications.
Source: Dan Wheatley, 'Location, vocation, location? Spatial entrapment among women in dual career households', Gender, Work and Organization, Volume 20 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Dec
An article examined policy debates on 'honour-based' violence and forced marriage in the Netherlands, Germany, and Britain. It considered how understandings of gender equality informed distinct approaches to immigrant integration. The Dutch case showed how the idea of gender equality could sometimes be used to include Muslim communities in the larger population, by generating policy responses that were more likely to position immigrants as full members of society. Alternatively, as the German case illustrated, the idea of gender equality could inform the stigmatization of Muslim communities and lead to exclusionary immigration policies. In Britain, there was a tension between gender equality and race discourses, with some organizations accusing the government of failing women out of fear of being accused of racism.
Source: Gokce Yurdakul and Anna Korteweg, 'Gender equality and immigrant integration: honor killing and forced marriage debates in the Netherlands, Germany, and Britain', Women's Studies International Forum, Volume 41 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Dec
A report examined the relative incidence of women and men in leadership positions in the European Union. The work looked at latest available data in the fields of economic decision-making, politics, public administrations and the judiciary. The report noted some signs of change, with the proportion of women involved in leadership positions having increased in many areas. However, there remained disparities between member states.
Source: Women and Men in Leadership Positions in the European Union 2013: A review of the situation and recent progress, European Commission
Links: Report | Commission press release
Date: 2013-Oct
A report provided a gender impact assessment of the coalition government's 2013 Spending Round. It said that the spending measures continued previous trends under which: women were harshly affected by cuts to public services and social security entitlements; the shift of employment from public sector to private sector worsened women's labour market position; and women benefited the least from opportunities arising from the government's investment in physical infrastructure.
Source: The Impact on Women of the Coalition Government's Spending Round 2013, Women's Budget Group
Links: Report | Briefing | WBG press release | Guardian report
Date: 2013-Sep
An article examined whether gender equality mattered for fertility in European countries. It said that gender equality needed to be conceptualized in a way that allowed for a distinction between gender difference and gender inequality. There was no uniform effect of gender equality on childbearing intentions.
Source: Gerda Neyer, Trude Lappegard, and Daniele Vignoli, 'Gender equality and fertility: which equality matters?', European Journal of Population, Volume 29 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Aug
A new book examined how the global economic crisis and the subsequent austerity policies were affecting women in Europe and the United States of America. It traced the consequences for gender equality in employment and welfare systems in nine case studies from countries (including the United Kingdom) facing the most severe adjustment problems.
Source: Maria Karamessini and Jill Rubery (eds), Women and Austerity: The economic crisis and the future for gender equality, Routledge
Links: Summary
Notes: Chapters included:
Francesca Bettio and Alina Verashchagina, 'Women and men in the "great European recession"'
Jill Rubery and Anthony Rafferty, 'Gender, recession and austerity in the UK'
Paola Villa and Mark Smith, 'Policy in the time of crisis: employment policy and gender equality in Europe'
Date: 2013-Aug
A study in Scotland found that women were foregoing their share of pension schemes under separation arrangements in order to secure the family home. A recurrent theme in settlement agreements was women's determination to stay in the family home: for men, the key asset they wanted to keep was pensions. As a result 25 per cent of women reported being worse off financially, whereas almost all the men surveyed reported that their financial situation was either the same or better than when they had been married.
Source: Jane Mair, Fran Wasoff, and Kirsteen Mackay, All Settled? A study of legally binding separation agreements and private ordering in Scotland, Centre for Research on Families and Relationships (University of Edinburgh)
Links: Report | Summary | Glasgow University press release | Herald Scotland report
Date: 2013-Aug
A report examined the abolition or weakening by the coalition government of key institutions and laws concerned with promoting equality. It also highlighted the dangers of abolishing or weakening the public sector equality duty, which was under 'wholesale review'. It set out alternative actions that the government could take if it genuinely wanted to improve its own effectiveness and that of the wider public sector in tackling discrimination against women and other groups.
Source: Red Tape, Red Line: Five reasons why government should not 'drop its duty' to tackle women s inequality, Fawcett Society
Links: Report | Fawcett Society press release | Guardian report
Date: 2013-Jul
A paper examined how gender equality at work was advanced through social dialogue in Europe. It confirmed the continued existence of a massive gender representation gap in European social dialogue, decision-making, and collective bargaining. The impetus for gender equality in social dialogue at the European level stemmed primarily from trade unions or from the European Commission in tripartite activities.
Source: Anni Weiler, Social Dialogue and Gender Equality in the European Union, Working Paper 44, International Labour Organization
Links: Paper
Date: 2013-Jul
A report provided an index showing the state of progress by each European Union member state towards gender equality in 2010. The United Kingdom scored 60.4 (out of 100) compared with the EU average of 54.0.
Source: Laura de Bonfils, Anne Laure Humbert, Viginta Ivaskaite-Tamosiune, Anna Rita Manca, Ligia Nobrega, Jolanta Reingarde, and Irene Rioboo Leston, Gender Equality Index: Report, European Institute for Gender Equality
Links: Report | Country profiles | EIGE press release
Date: 2013-Jun
A new book examined the interaction between policies, institutions, and civil society actors in relation to gender equality, diversity, and intersectionality at the European level.
Source: Lise Rolandsen Agustin, Gender Equality, Intersectionality and Diversity in Europe, Palgrave Macmillan
Links: Summary
Date: 2013-Jun
An article examined the extent to which cross-national differences in population and structural characteristics could explain the differences in poverty outcomes in Europe by gender. It analyzed gender differences in the risk of being poor, entering into poverty, and exiting from poverty among 17 European countries. Structural effects (such as welfare state policies, labour market characteristics, level of inequality, and the level of women's empowerment) seemed to be more relevant than individual effects in explaining differences in the gender poverty gap among countries.
Source: Elena Barcena-Martin and Ana Moro-Egido, 'Gender and poverty risk in Europe', Feminist Economics, Volume 19 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-May
A report provided an overview of legislation in Europe on intersecting discrimination related to gender and disability.
Source: Konstantina Davaki, Claire Marzo, Elisa Narminio, and Maria Arvanitidou, Discrimination Generated by the Intersection of Gender and Disability, European Parliament
Links: Report
Date: 2013-May
The second edition was published of a handbook of comparative social policy, examining key concepts and issues such as globalization, crime, diversity, housing, child poverty, gender inequality, and social policy regimes.
Source: Patricia Kennett (ed.), A Handbook of Comparative Social Policy (Second Edition), Edward Elgar Publishing
Links: Summary
Notes: Individual chapters included:
Julia O Connor, 'Gender, citizenship and welfare state regimes in the early 21st century: "incomplete revolution" and/or gender equality "lost in translation"
Norman Ginsburg, 'Structured diversity: a framework for critically comparing welfare states?'
James Midgley, 'Social development and social welfare: implications for comparative social policy'
Jonathan Bradshaw, 'Child poverty and child well-being in comparative perspective'
Ray Forrest, 'The contours of the housing question'
Date: 2013-May
An annual report examined developments towards gender equality in the European Union in 2012.
Source: Progress on Equality between Women and Men in 2012, European Commission
Links: Report
Date: 2013-May
A report examined the United Kingdom government's progress in implementing the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. It highlighted key areas where progress on women's rights had come to a standstill, and in some cases reversed. Some of the most vulnerable women in society – including lone mothers, and those who were disabled or from minority-ethnic groups – were bearing the brunt of coalition government spending cuts.
Source: Women s Equality in the UK: A Health Check, Women's Resource Centre
Links: Report | Summary | Appendices (links) | Fawcett Society press release | Guardian report
Date: 2013-May
A report examined the role and positioning of men in relation to gender equality issues in Europe, including: the importance of education and work in the context of increasing men's contribution to gender equality; the involvement of men in family, care, and domestic work responsibilities; men's health; gender-based violence; and men's participation in gender equality policy. Full gender equality was impossible without the commitment of both genders. The costs of traditional power-based forms of masculinity were not only high for women, and for society as a whole – but also for men themselves.
Source: Sophia Belghiti-Mahut, Nadja Bergmann, Marc Gartner, Jeff Hearn, Oystein Gullvag Holter, Majda Hrzenjak, Ralf Puchert, Christian Scambor, Elli Scambor, Hartwig Schuck, Victor Seidler, Alan White, and Katarzyna Wojnicka, The Role of Men in Gender Equality – European strategies & insights, European Commission
Links: Report
Date: 2013-May
An article examined the theoretical reasons for believing that feminism and anti-racism could be regarded as fighting for the joint purpose of anti-discrimination in Europe, and the empirical evidence that might be found for such a joint approach.
Source: Helene Pristed Nielsen, 'Joint purpose? Intersectionality in the hands of anti-racist and gender equality activists in Europe', Ethnicities, Volume 13 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-May
A think-tank report examined trends in women's aspirations and expectations over time and from generation to generation. It said that 'break-the-glass-ceiling' approaches had come to dominate mainstream debates about gender equality, and had led to a narrow focus on formal, legal equality. There was a need to move away from abstract debates about how the 'average woman' fared compared with the 'average man', and towards a set of policies and changes that were rooted in and relevant to the daily experiences of women.
Source: Tess Lanning, Laura Bradley, Richard Darlington, and Glenn Gottfried, Great Expectations: Exploring the promises of gender equality, Institute for Public Policy Research
Links: Report | Summary | CLS press release
Date: 2013-Apr
A report summarized the main findings from research that combined an international overview of trends in women's representation on corporate boards with in-depth case study analysis of 8 European countries (including the United Kingdom). The countries were selected because they encapsulated different policy approaches: quotas, 'soft law' governance codes, and non-intervention. Well designed quota tools were found to be an effective means of stimulating change in non-executive board positions, despite being considered contentious by many stakeholders.
Source: Colette Fagan, Women on Corporate Boards in Europe, European Parliament
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Mar
A report said that a gender dimension was not specifically addressed in any of the seven flagship initiatives associated with the Europe 2020 strategy for inclusive growth. It said that the gender dimension should be systematically incorporated into national reform programmes (NRPs), and that the next multiannual financial framework (2014–2020) should make available adequate and specific funding to advance women's rights and gender equality.
Source: The Gender Dimension in the Europe 2020 Strategy, European Economic and Social Committee (European Union)
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Mar
A new book examined law reform designed to advance gender equality in an international context. Contributors considered the evolution of dominant theoretical approaches and traced their application to core issues, such as the meaning of gender, family formation and roles, equality in the workplace, reproductive rights, and violence. They discussed how best to define and account for biological, social or cultural differences based on gender; how the law could recognize historic and ongoing gender subordination while supporting individuals' autonomy and agency; and the nature and role of women's sexuality.
Source: Julie Goldscheid (ed.), Gender and Equality Law, Ashgate Publications
Links: Summary
Notes: Chapters included: Jane Lewis, 'Work/family reconciliation, equal opportunities and social policies: the interpretation of policy trajectories at the EU level and the meaning of gender equality'
Date: 2013-Mar
A new book examined the development of the European Union's gender equality policy.
Source: Anna van der Vleuten, The Price of Gender Equality: Member states and governance in the European Union, Ashgate Publications
Links: Summary
Date: 2013-Feb
A report highlighted the lack of women in politically powerful positions in politics and other spheres of public life. Three-quarters of MPs were men, as were 90 per cent of bank chief executives, and almost 90 per cent of chief constables and police and crime commissioners.
Source: Sex and Power 2013: Who runs Britain?, Counting Women In
Links: Report | CWI press release | CWD press release | ERS blog post | Fawcett Society press release | Labour Party press release | Unlock Democracy blog post | Guardian report
Date: 2013-Feb
An article examined the economic determinants of gendered policy change, and whether the agenda-setting possibilities of feminist policy actors were constrained by economic conditions. Gender equality policy agendas appeared to follow periods of positive economic performance, and economic framing of gender equality policy was essential.
Source: Claire Annesley and Francesca Gains, 'Investigating the economic determinants of the UK gender equality policy agenda', British Journal of Politics and International Relations, Volume 15 Issue 1
Links: Abstract | LSE blog post
Date: 2013-Jan
A report examined the impact of the global economic crisis on the situation of women and men in Europe and on gender equality policies. There had been a levelling down of gender gaps in employment, unemployment, wages, and poverty. The labour market behaviour of women had been similar to that of men. Although there was evidence of contained but uneven retrenchment in welfare provision in the first years of the crisis, there was a threat that fiscal consolidation might ultimately reduce both welfare provision and related employment – with associated gender equality impacts. In the vast majority of countries gender mainstreaming had not been implemented in policy design and policy implementation over the crisis.
Source: Francesca Bettio, Marcella Corsi, Carlo D Ippoliti, Antigone Lyberaki, Manuela Samek Lodovici, and Alina Verashchagina, The Impact of the Economic Crisis on the Situation of Women and Men and on Gender Equality Policies, European Network of Experts on Gender Equality (European Commission)
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Jan
An article examined whether the quality of 'gender+' equality policies could be defined in ways that applied across different policy contexts in Europe. It proposed a two-dimensional model. The first dimension linked quality to procedural aspects, such as empowering advocates of women's rights. The second dimension dealt with the genderedness, intersectionality, and 'structurally transformative' focus of policies. Within this framework, the quality of gender equality policies could be constructed through policy debates in ways that were dependent on the different discursive, institutional, and structural factors specific to various policy contexts.
Source: Andrea Krizsan and Emanuela Lombardo, 'The quality of gender equality policies: a discursive approach', European Journal of Women's Studies, Volume 20 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Jan
An article examined the suitability of United Nations' composite indices and other related measures to capture gender inequalities in Europe. Many of the gender gaps in health and education variables had either vanished or even reversed, calling into question their appropriateness. Alternatively, parliamentary representation and labour force participation were variables with large continuing gender gaps. Different cross-section and cross-time associations between economic growth and gender equality were generally not statistically significant – or at most weakly correlated – at European level: this was because the gender gaps included in UN gender-related indices had reached their normatively desirable values some time previously, leaving no room for further improvement.
Source: Inaki Permanyer, 'Are UNDP indices appropriate to capture gender inequalities in Europe?', Social Indicators Research, Volume 110 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Jan