Current challenges to gender mainstreaming in Europe

Abstract

This chapter discusses some of the most urgent challenges to gender equality policies in Europe. The European gender-mainstreaming strategy represents one of the few attemptsto promoting gender equality through a transnational legislative framework.However,theachievements reached so far cannot be given for granted. Political changes, as the rise of right-wing Eurosceptic parties supporting traditional-family models and ethnocentric views, may address new political agendas in which gender equality is marginalised. Furthermore, economic changes can impact on family patterns and gender arrangements, with policy budgets affected as well. The chapter also points out the technocratic approachto gender equality adopted by European laws,whichneglected the cumulative and simultaneous effect of multiple inequities. However, gender often intersects with other differences that can exacerbate inequities. The chapter discusses therefore the gendered consequences of the economic crisis and of defamilisation policies, implemented to deal with the ageing population; and the risks connected with the adoption of ethnocentric, gender-blind policies in the management of the refugees crisis and integration.