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Coordination Committee chaired by Dr. Simon Duncan (University of Bradford, UK)
More about the Network
The aims of the Network were:
- to provide a basis for the empirical analysis of different forms of gender inequality in Europe
- to position theoretically differences in gender relations
- to examine the regional and local contexts of gender inequality, as well as national and European contexts
- to produce a book, Mapping Gender Inequality in Europe, supported by thematic publications.
The need for comparative gender studies is particularly acute in the context of European integration. The focus so far has been on economic and political integration with an emphasis on the single market. But it is now widely accepted that integration as a whole will be severely hampered in regions where social and labour market structures fail to recognise ‘the new reality’ of increasing numbers of women in paid work and in heading households.
Although gender in general is being increasingly widely studied, there are weaknesses in current research that are particularly limiting when trying to establish a European dimension. One weakness is that there tends to be a unicausal explanation of gender inequality - i.e. that men dominate women through the social structures of patriarchy in the home, workplace and public life. Yet the full picture is more complex, with for example, women themselves often taking actions, such as seeking part-time work or initiating divorce, even though these may leave them more economically vulnerable.
A second weakness is a tendency of researchers to over-generalise from specific cases that are relevant only in particular regions or countries. This can lead to misleading conclusions, for example the decision by women whether or not to take paid work takes place at a deeper social level of expectations, norms and traditions that vary from region to region. This Network will ensure that proper account is taken of regional variations in culture and tradition that underpin women’s (and men’s) definitions of their roles and expectations.
