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Gender equality and EU enlargement - a discursive approach

Goffe, Julia LU (2017) STVM25 20171
Department of Political Science
Abstract
The European Union (EU) is a gender equality actor growing in importance. This study aims to contribute to the understanding of gender equality in the EU context by examining the EU enlargement process. The study takes a discursive approach to gender equality and is guided by the question: What is the meaning of gender equality in the EU enlargement context? Using critical frame analysis, the key documents of the current, sixth wave of EU enlargement are examined. The study shows that gender equality has a narrow meaning in the EU enlargement context as it is limited to concerns about formal rights, gender-based violence and increasing female participation on the labour market and in political bodies. Gender equality is represented as... (More)
The European Union (EU) is a gender equality actor growing in importance. This study aims to contribute to the understanding of gender equality in the EU context by examining the EU enlargement process. The study takes a discursive approach to gender equality and is guided by the question: What is the meaning of gender equality in the EU enlargement context? Using critical frame analysis, the key documents of the current, sixth wave of EU enlargement are examined. The study shows that gender equality has a narrow meaning in the EU enlargement context as it is limited to concerns about formal rights, gender-based violence and increasing female participation on the labour market and in political bodies. Gender equality is represented as something that can be created through legislation. There is little evidence of the policy of gender mainstreaming that the EU is officially committed to. The role of men in gender equality is absent from the documents analysed, instead gender inequality is represented as a problem for women. Therefore, the gender power relations remain unchallenged in the EU enlargement context. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Goffe, Julia LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVM25 20171
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
gender equality, EU enlargement, critical frame analysis, gender mainstreaming, discourse
language
English
id
8907543
date added to LUP
2017-06-27 15:05:28
date last changed
2017-06-27 15:05:28
@misc{8907543,
  abstract     = {{The European Union (EU) is a gender equality actor growing in importance. This study aims to contribute to the understanding of gender equality in the EU context by examining the EU enlargement process. The study takes a discursive approach to gender equality and is guided by the question: What is the meaning of gender equality in the EU enlargement context? Using critical frame analysis, the key documents of the current, sixth wave of EU enlargement are examined. The study shows that gender equality has a narrow meaning in the EU enlargement context as it is limited to concerns about formal rights, gender-based violence and increasing female participation on the labour market and in political bodies. Gender equality is represented as something that can be created through legislation. There is little evidence of the policy of gender mainstreaming that the EU is officially committed to. The role of men in gender equality is absent from the documents analysed, instead gender inequality is represented as a problem for women. Therefore, the gender power relations remain unchallenged in the EU enlargement context.}},
  author       = {{Goffe, Julia}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Gender equality and EU enlargement - a discursive approach}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}