Gender equality policies in the USA: note

Even though the most obvious forms of sex discrimination have been considerably reduced in the USA society, discrimination takes much more subtle forms. This note offers an overview of the situation in the US (at federal level) regarding gender equality and is based on 5 themes: sex discrimination in the workplace; reconciliation of private and professional life; access to health care; equal representation in decision-making; eradication of all forms of genderbased violence. It appears that, depending on the issue at stake, the US situation can be comparable to the one of some of the EU countries or be particular notably because of cultural specificities

Differences in men's and women's work, care, and leisure time

The economic crisis has profoundly affected the labour market and private life of men and women. This study examines the interrelation of policies with the ways women and men allocate time to paid work, care and leisure and the gendered outcomes produced in different socio-economic and cultural settings. It shows that policies are powerful tools which cn contribute to a better work-life balance and transform gender roles in accordance to the targets of EU2020 strategy and EU28 commitment to gender equality

Access to maternal health and midwifery for vulnerable social groups in the EU

This study, commissioned by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the FEMM Committee examines issues related to access of vulnerable social groups to maternal health care services and midwifery in the EU. As the study points out, this access is affected by the interplay of health systems, law, policies, socio-economic factors and attitudes of health professionals and users which leads to barriers to access and consequently to worse health outcomes for those women, as evidence demonstrates. This study critically discusses the issues, analyses the causes, surveys the literature for best practices and makes policy recommendations, aiming at improving the situation for vulnerable women and contributing to reduction of health inequalities

The traumas endured by refugee women and their consequences for integration and participation in the EU host country

This study was commissioned by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the FEMM Committee. The study focuses on the trauma that refugee and asylum-seeking women suffer when reaching their host country. Drawing on an extensive survey of scientific literature, international organisations’ reports, websites, press, and discussions with relevant experts, it highlights survivors' different needs and the structural, cultural and psychological barriers to their resettlement in the EU. It argues for coordinated, gender- and culture-sensitive policies, EU collective responsibility in managing the refugee crisis and multi-level interventions from an intersectionality perspective

Demography and family policies from a gender perspective

The European Union is in the midst of three crises: the economic, the demographic and the refugee. This study evaluates policies aiming at increasing fertility through work-life balance, reveals their interrelation with family policies and economic priorities and suggests ways of addressing challenges on all three fronts with the view to minimise their gendered outcomes

The policy on gender equality in Greece

This note provides an overview of the itinerary of equality legislation and policies in Greece since the 1980s in the areas of employment, work/family reconciliation, decision-making, health and violence against women. the achievements and gains of the pre-2009 period are at risk in the current climate of the most severe recession which the country has known since the end of World War II. Special attention is paid to the aspects of equality most affected by the austerity measures requiring intervention

The underlying causes of the digital gender gap and possible solutions for enhanced inclusion of women and girls

This study, commissioned by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the FEMM Committee, attempts to reveal the links between the different factors (access, skills, socio-economic and cultural), which prevent women from having equal access to digital technology. It then suggests ways of dealing with online and offline inequalities to the effect of closing the digital gender gap and improving women’s and girls’ digital inclusion and future technology-related career paths