Description
In May 2004, after bringing their legislation into accordance with EU regulations, ten more countries joined the European Union. The contributors to this volume assess the impact of this historical development on gender relations in the new and old EU member states. Instead of focusing on either western or eastern Europe, this book investigates the similarities and differences in diverse parts of Europe. Although initially limited, gender equality was part of the original framework of the European Union, an organization often more open than national governments to feminist demands, as this volume illustrates with case studies from eastern and western Europe. The enlargement process thus provides some important policy instruments for increasing equality between men and women.
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Sociologist Silke (U. of Southampton, UK) introduces the European Union as an important resource for the promotion of gender equality. Multidisciplinary contributors to a dozen chapters assess the impact of this supranational structure on framing gender relations. Following discussions of the EU's role in policies on working parents and sexual harassment at the workplace, case studies treat country-specific women's organizations, policies, and movements in old, new, and candidate member states. For example, policies to improve women's status play a pivotal role in Turkey's preparation for EU membership. The closely related issue of ethnic minority/immigrant claims to citizenship, which has prompted some backlash, is discussed in the context of US, German, and EU models of gendered politics. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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