A New Gender Equality Contract for Europe

This open access book, supported by FEPS and Fondation Jean-Jaurès, centres on the work of contemporary progressive feminist thinkers and the idea that there is no democracy without gender equality. “This book reminds us: women’s rights are fundamental rights. They are human rights.” —Evelyn Regner, Member of the European Parliament “In developing a systematic agenda for a more feminist EU, this book shows that at issue is not only long-overdue gender equality in all spheres of life and society but the sustainability of society itself.” — Chiara Saraceno, Professor Emerita, University of Turin and Berlin Social Science Center, and Honorary Fellow, Collegio Carlo Alberto “The book is a wonderful call – for activists and theorists alike – to read, think, discuss and act.” —Helma Lutz, Goethe University Frankfurt This open access book, supported by FEPS and Fondation Jean-Jaurès, centres on the work of contemporary progressive feminist thinkers and the idea that there is no democracy without gender equality. The authors develop the concept of a feminism that works for everyone – regardless of their gender, social or cultural identity – in the context of EU policy. The book features gender experts with multidisciplinary backgrounds from across Europe, providing a comprehensive exploration of efforts to move away from “gender backlash” rhetoric and towards a new gender contract for a fairer, more equal European Union. Andrea Pető is Professor in the Department of Gender Studies at Central European University, Vienna, Austria; Doctor of Science at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences; and Doctor Honoris Causa at Södertörn University, Stockholm, Sweden. Laeticia Thissen is Senior Policy Analyst for Gender Equality at FEPS, where she works on women’s rights, equality and anti-discrimination issues – with a focus on gender injustice, care work and gender-based violence. Amandine Clavaud is Director of the Studies and Research Department at Fondation Jean-Jaurès and Director of the Observatory for Gender Equality. She is the author of the essay Droits des femmes: le grand recul (Éditions de l’Aube, 2023). This open access book, supported by FEPS and Fondation Jean-Jaurès, centres on the work of contemporary progressive feminist thinkers and the idea that there is no democracy without gender equality. The authors develop the concept of a feminism that works for everyone – regardless of their gender, social or cultural identity – in the context of EU policy. The book features gender experts with multidisciplinary backgrounds from across Europe, providing a comprehensive exploration of efforts to move away from “gender backlash” rhetoric and towards a new gender contract for a fairer, more equal European Union.