Gender equality has been one of the defining projects of European welfare states. It has proven an elusive goal, not just because of political opposition but also due to a lack of clarity in how to best frame equality and take account of family-related considerations. This wide-ranging book assembles the most pertinent literature and evidence to provide a critical understanding of how contemporary state policies engage with gender inequalities.

Examining progress in gender equality in EU member states, this thought-provoking book traces developments from the last decade and earlier regarding women's and men's relative positioning in respect of income, employment and time. Located in a critical feminist perspective, the result is a compelling overview of the gender-related achievements in the EU and continuing gaps and inequalities. As well as taking stock of where we are now, the book identifies a research agenda going forward. This seeks to revitalise the feminist social policy project, in light of key welfare state developments and intersectional inequalities in Europe and beyond.

This innovative and detailed book constitutes an important contribution to debates about gender equality and policies in Europe and provides a timely reminder of the content of the gender critique of welfare states and why it is still salient.

About the Author
Mary Daly, Professor of Sociology and Social Policy, Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, UK

Reviews
'Across Europe, women's lives have changed significantly in recent years, men's much less so. Gender divisions remain strong, interconnected with other forms of inequality. This engaging and wide-ranging book provides a detailed analysis of the mixed and uneven role of social policy in addressing gender inequalities across Europe. Read it to understand how we got to where we are now, and where we need to go in the future.'
--Jane Millar, University of Bath, UK

'Mary Daly gives us an incisive and up-to-date synthesis of what we know, and what we don't, about the part social policy plays in inequalities between women and men. Focusing on European Union countries, she traces the evolution of theory and presents comparative empirical analysis of gender inequalities in employment, material resources, and time given to the work of daily life. Finding both stasis and change, she leads us toward the next horizon of thinking about gender and social policy. This work is as readable as it is scholarly.'
--Sheila Shaver, University of New South Wales, Australia

'Writing from a full appreciation of the history of the fields of social policy and gender studies, in this important book Mary Daly applies evidence to theoretical perspectives to reveal the impact of public policy on the quotidian of gendered lives. Exploring differences among genders and the intersections of inequalities, she maps their management, reproduction and change by social policy, and goes on to identify key directions for future theory and research. A tour de force and compulsory reading for all.'
--Jane Jenson, Universite de Montreal, Canada

Book Information
ISBN 9781800373839
Author Mary Daly
Format Paperback
Page Count 232
Imprint Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd
Publisher Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd