Gendered Policies in Europe : Reconciling Employment and Family Life

Gendered Policies in Europe examines the policy process, focusing on the shifts in equal opportunities legislation towards measures to help parents combine employment and family life. The authors track the inputs of members states and pressure groups to European policy formation and analyse outputs and outcomes at national levels as they impact on gender issues in law and practice. They draw on examples of the implementation of reconciliation policies to illustrate how the policy process operates in different national contexts. Gendered Policies In Europe Provides Important And Timely Insights Into The Changing Policy Process In The Area Of Equal Opportunities. The Authors Track The Contributions Of Member States And Pressure Groups To Eu Policy Formation, And Analyse The Impact Of European Legislation On Gender Issues In Law And Practice In France, Germany, Italy, The United Kingdom, Spain And Sweden. By Combining Detailed Analysis Of The Eu Policy-making Framework With National Case-studies, The Book Illustrates How Different Policy Styles And Institutional Settings Have Shaped Equality Policy And Influenced Implementation.--jacket. From Equal Pay To Reconciliation Of Employment And Family Life / Linda Hantrais -- The European Union And The Equal Opportunities Process / Maria Stratigaki -- Reconciliation Policies From A Comparative Perspective / Marlene Lohkamp-himmighofen And Christiane Dienel -- From Equality To Reconciliation In France? / Marie-thérèse Lanquetin, Jacqueline Laufer And Marie-thérèse Letablier -- Equal Opportunities Policies And The Management Of Care In Germany / Kirsten Scheiwe -- The Paradoxes Of Italian Law And Practice / Alisa Del Re -- From Hard To Soft Law And From Equality To Reconciliation In The United Kingdom / Barbara Bagilhole And Paul Byrne -- Reconciliation Policies In Spain / Celia Valiente -- Adaptation Or Diffusion Of The Swedish Gender Model? / Christina Bergqvist And Ann-cathrine Jungar -- Taking Stock And Looking Ahead / Monica Threlfall. Edited By Linda Hantrais. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 201-220) And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-xii From Equal Pay to Reconciliation of Employment and Family Life....Pages 1-26 The European Union and the Equal Opportunities Process....Pages 27-48 Reconciliation Policies from a Comparative Perspective....Pages 49-67 From Equality to Reconciliation in France?....Pages 68-88 Equal Opportunities Policies and the Management of Care in Germany....Pages 89-107 The Paradoxes of Italian Law and Practice....Pages 108-123 From Hard to Soft Law and from Equality to Reconciliation in the United Kingdom....Pages 124-142 Reconciliation Policies in Spain....Pages 143-159 Adaptation or Diffusion of the Swedish Gender Model?....Pages 160-179 Taking Stock and Looking Ahead....Pages 180-200 Back Matter....Pages 201-228 This book provides important and timely insights into the changing policy process in the area of equal opportunities. The authors track the contributions of member states and pressure groups to EU policy formation, and analyze the impacts of European legislation on gender issues in law and practice. By combining detailed analysis of the EU policy-making framework with national case-studies, the book illustrates how different policy styles and institutional settings have shaped equality policy and influence implementation.