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How is Europe 2020’s pursuit for growth negotiated with equality? - An intersectional reading of policies aimed at increased productivity

Svenmarker, Anna LU (2011) SIMT18 20111
Master of Science in Social Studies of Gender
Abstract
This thesis focus on how notions of equality and neo-liberal pursuits for growth are negotiated in policy, discussing the relationship between problem definition at top level and the implemented solution at policy level. The problem is defined in the European Union’s growth strategy Europe 2020 as Europe having to increase productivity, while the implemented solution I focus on is the emerging focus on entrepreneurial skill in Swedish schools. I answer three questions in order to enlighten this relationship: 1. How is equality compatible with the shift towards increased neo-liberalism? 2. How are equality and neo-liberal pursuits for growth narrated in Europe 2020? and 3. How do students subjected to reforms aimed at increasing their... (More)
This thesis focus on how notions of equality and neo-liberal pursuits for growth are negotiated in policy, discussing the relationship between problem definition at top level and the implemented solution at policy level. The problem is defined in the European Union’s growth strategy Europe 2020 as Europe having to increase productivity, while the implemented solution I focus on is the emerging focus on entrepreneurial skill in Swedish schools. I answer three questions in order to enlighten this relationship: 1. How is equality compatible with the shift towards increased neo-liberalism? 2. How are equality and neo-liberal pursuits for growth narrated in Europe 2020? and 3. How do students subjected to reforms aimed at increasing their competing skills experience their future aspirations – and are gender, ethnicity, and class etc. factors of difference? I apply narrative method in my analysis of the data, and relate the results to intersectional theory. In my results I note that the policy narrative of Europe 2020 obscures a range of subject positions in the perceived reality it communicates. Using examples from the student respondents I discuss the implications of obscuring certain subject positions and argue for more case-sensitive solutions that incorporates a larger range of subject positions. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Svenmarker, Anna LU
supervisor
organization
course
SIMT18 20111
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
policy narrative, entrepreneurship, neo-liberalism, EU 2020
language
English
id
1974771
date added to LUP
2011-07-06 08:08:15
date last changed
2011-07-06 08:08:15
@misc{1974771,
  abstract     = {{This thesis focus on how notions of equality and neo-liberal pursuits for growth are negotiated in policy, discussing the relationship between problem definition at top level and the implemented solution at policy level. The problem is defined in the European Union’s growth strategy Europe 2020 as Europe having to increase productivity, while the implemented solution I focus on is the emerging focus on entrepreneurial skill in Swedish schools. I answer three questions in order to enlighten this relationship: 1. How is equality compatible with the shift towards increased neo-liberalism? 2. How are equality and neo-liberal pursuits for growth narrated in Europe 2020? and 3. How do students subjected to reforms aimed at increasing their competing skills experience their future aspirations – and are gender, ethnicity, and class etc. factors of difference? I apply narrative method in my analysis of the data, and relate the results to intersectional theory. In my results I note that the policy narrative of Europe 2020 obscures a range of subject positions in the perceived reality it communicates. Using examples from the student respondents I discuss the implications of obscuring certain subject positions and argue for more case-sensitive solutions that incorporates a larger range of subject positions.}},
  author       = {{Svenmarker, Anna}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{How is Europe 2020’s pursuit for growth negotiated with equality? - An intersectional reading of policies aimed at increased productivity}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}