Tuesday, 2^nd November 2010

Gender equality: Europe's quality?!

This was the title of our JEF seminar back in March this year and I want to use this title/question to approach this important topic. Despite positive developments we still have a huge task ahead of us before we achieve proper gender equality in Europe as well as within our own organisations.

Gender equality both as a value and as a goal is enshrined in various European documents and legal provisions. Yet, the pay gap between men and women remains wide and the percentage of women engaged in politics and business in high-ranking positions remains dismal. The promotion of gender equality is considered as a precondition for achieving sustainable social and economic development.

The European Youth Forum (YFJ) has been actively involved in the gender equality policy debate and back in 2007 adopted the excellent “Policy paper on achieving equality between women and men” in which it stresses its belief that all policy areas must incorporate a gender dimension. This policy paper looks specifically at gender role division; the social and economic position of young women; gender and education; and gender and development – with an additional focus on the participation of women in political life, and the role of young men in the struggle for equality between women and men.

Moreover, this policy paper included a clear list of actions to which the YFJ had committed itself, and of demands to which it called on institutions to commit. In the wake of the new policy developments at EU level it will be important for the YFJ to check that list of actions and demands and see what has been achieved and implemented and where the work remains to be done.

On 21^st September 2010 the European Commission adopted a five-year strategy for promoting equality between women and men in Europe entitled Strategy for equality between women and men (2010-2015). Championed by the Belgian Presidency, the new strategy is based around five key principles: (1) equality in senior positions, (2) getting more women into the job market, (3) promoting female entrepreneurship, (4) equal pay for equal work and (5) tackling gender violence.

YFJ has welcomed the new strategy but also rightly voiced concern about it. On the positive side are the focus on young women's access to entrepreneurial market in order to achieve economic independence as well as the recognition of the the need to pay special attention to the transition between education and the labour market and narrowing the pay gap. But as YFJ puts it the strategy lacks many vital elements, such as any effort whatsoever to promote gender equality in the field of sexual and reproductive health, or a focus on combating gender-based stereotypes.

I personally share this line of reasoning and join those voices (such as the European Women's Lobby and several female MEPs) that criticised the plan for being heavy on rhetoric but somewhat light on action. As long as the Commission calls for more women in power in the business sector but fails to give them power when it can do so itself (e.g. the recently established European External Service with only 6 out of 28 EU ambassadors being female) its credibility will be questioned.

Why does the topic of gender equality concern us and the YFJ?

Youth organisations have a unique chance and responsibility to not only discuss the issue of gender equality but also to act on this internally in its activities based on non-formal education and peer-to-peer education. It is seminars, exchanges, trainings and similar youth activities that help broaden our views and tackle difficult topics that touch upon sensitive understandings of gender roles in a given society.

The gap between women’s and men’s rates of participation at various levels within youth organisations still prevails and at the top level there is a vast imbalance. By many, this imbalance is often not noticed or perceived. Therefore, it could be fruitful for youth organisations to internally evaluate their work from a gender perspective, measuring the participation of women and men as well as analysing why there might be a discrepancy. It is also important to empower young women to take part in the different structures of an organisation. A particular regard has to be taken to young people that might face multiple barriers such as young women from minority backgrounds.

This is something that was agreed and adopted in the YFJ back in 2007, yet if we assess the situation today we will see that not much has changed. We are having elections in the YFJ coming up in 3 weeks time and the number of female candidates presenting themselves is not the desired half, it is even below 40%. We need to evaluate this situation and address the shortcoming that might arise from such evaluation. So that we lead by example and practice what we preach, otherwise our demands towards decision-makers to do so will be hollow.

Moreover, it is through youth work that we can enable a broad discussion on the quintessential nature of gender and its role in European societies, provide youngsters engaged in NGO activities basic information about the gender perspective and offer practical advice how gender equality can be promoted. Another important objective is to get a European perspective on the issue by getting an insight on the evolution of the perception of gender, by comparing different approaches and achievements to promote equality.

I am confident that our member organisations within the YFJ have the expertise needed to help us analyse and make proposals on how the principles of gender equality in youth work can be implemented in European youth policy. We should build on our previous policy papers and make sure that the youth voice we are defending is a voice in favour of proper gender equality backed by positive examples within our own ranks.