February 2008 Contribution from the European Women s Lobby to the European s Commission s Consultation paper on Europe s Social Reality 1 The European Women s Lobby is the largest alliance of women s nongovernmental organisations in the European Union with more than 4000 member organisations. EWL currently comprises 28 national coordinations in EU Member States and accession countries and 19 European-wide member organisations. EWL s mission is to work to achieve equality between women and men, to promote women s empowerment in all spheres of public and private life and to eliminate all forms of violence against women. 1. Introduction: The European Women s Lobby (EWL) is closely following the developments of new trends of European societies and the configuration of new roles that are emerging for women and men. EWL has focused its work on analysing and monitoring the situation regarding women s situation relating to different aspects such as demographic changes, migration, the labour market, violence against women and women in decision making. Therefore, EWL welcomes the Commission Consultation paper on Europe s Social Reality and is submitting this contribution to the debate from women s and a gender equality perspective. In the first part of the submission, general aspects are developed regarding new trends that are shaping Europe s Social Reality and also concrete aspects concerning gender equality and women s rights. First of all, within the general aspects, some concerns are exposed regarding the labour market trends in a post-industrial knowledge and service based economy, paying special attention to the concept of flexicurity and its impact on women. Secondly, the role and impact of the Welfare State concerning basic care policies and services and reconciliation between work life and private life issues within the new socioeconomic paradigm. Thirdly, following on from this, there is a brief analysis of the situation of families and their wellbeing with regards to care and the diversity among family structures. Fourthly, the text focuses on migration issues with special consideration being paid on the role of migrant women in host societies. The final section provides a short reflection on the current situation with regards to gender equality. 1 Consultation paper from the bureau of European Policy Advisers Europe s Social Reality, by Roger Liddle and Fréderic Lerais -With assistance and gratitude for comments from Tassos Belessiotis, Marcel Canoy, Maria da Graca Carvalho, Jonas Condomines, Vitor Gaspar, Agnes Hubert, Anna Melich and Peter Smith. (http://ec.europa.eu/citizens_agenda/social_reality_stocktaking/docs/background_document_en.pdf) 1
1.1 Labour market trends in a post-industrial knowledge and service based economy The Commission s document pays special attention to the increasing number of jobs and employment that the new post-industrial knowledge and service based economy is providing. Consequently, the number of jobs is increasing and unemployment rates are decreasing. Alongside this quantitative approach, a qualitative analysis is needed which takes into account the nature of these jobs. Fixed term contracts, part-time jobs and job insecurity are some of the characteristics of the employment created within the new economic paradigm based on flexicurity - combining flexibility in work and security out of work. The way in which flexicurity is currently framed, the traditional gender division in paid and unpaid work remains intact. The question that needs to be asked is how the changes are going to effect women who are already in a more disadvantaged position that men on the labour market? EWL would like to stress that women and men are not equal in terms of employment; in the majority of cases, women are in the most vulnerable situation and experience the first hand consequences of an insecure employment conditions and pay. Moreover, women face specific situations and discrimination such as segregation within the labour market, which leads women to occupy low skilled, routine, badly paid, low opportunities for training and career progression and part time jobs. Women also face the gender pay gap and a glass ceiling phenomenon. EWL stresses the need pay special attention to women s situation within the labour markets and create specific measures to tackle the multiple forms of discrimination that they face. The European Union has a major responsibility in ensuring the effectiveness of the implementation of EU directive 2000/78 2 on non discrimination in Employment. The new shape of the labour market requires highly skilled workers and therefore life long learning strategies. The EWL believes it is important to pay special attention to how women will be able to partake in training, taking into account their situation in the labour market and their overrepresentation in unpaid work, particularly concerning care issues. The EU and the Members States must pay particular attention to the barriers in access to quality education and training by creating mechanisms and tools to ensure employability of women. 1.2. Role and impact of Welfare State In most cases welfare state protection and services are linked to and derive from participation in the labour market. Given that women and men are not equal in terms of labour market participation, women do not receive the same level of protection as men, for 2 Council directive 2000/18/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation. 2
example in relation to first pillar pensions. Therefore, social protection through the welfare state should be provided regardless of participation in the labour market. The issue of care is crucial to the role of the welfare state, which requires broadening the issue beyond women s-only responsibility or commodification of care services. The questions that need to be asked are: what are the responsibilities of the welfare state? What is its role in providing societies with affordable, accessible and high quality care services for all dependents? Care policies and the provision of care services are intrinsically related to the achievement of equality between women and men. Women have careers, jobs, professional responsibilities, and at the same time women continue to be in large part responsible for the care of their children, housework and care of dependents whose numbers are increasing as the population ages. The EWL stresses the necessity of welfare states to design and implement care policies and to create care services and make them available for all. One way out of this double life burden for women lies firstly in changes in the gender division of paid and unpaid work to ensure an equal sharing of caring tasks between women and men (see the next paragraph). However, at the same time, social and employment policies and the provision of services also have a very important part to play. 1.3. Families and well-being As previously stated, it is often taken for granted that women carry the majority of family responsibilities. There is some evidence to suggest that because of economic pressures women are not having as many children as they would ideally prefer 3. One the other hand, there is a causal link between the lack of reconciliation of private and work-life options and the decrease of the birth rate. Therefore, the EWL strongly believes there are also other reasons to explain the low birth rates such as lack of accessible, affordable and high quality care services and lack of co-responsibility of men in care and domestic work. In the future, it can be expected that data will provide evidence of the impact of environmental damaging substances that are also likely to be effecting fertility, including men s fertility. Traditional gender roles and stereotypes continue to have a strong influence on the division of labour between women and men at home. This is true both for the workplace and for society at large, and adds to the perpetuation of the spiral of obstacles to achieving gender equality. Therefore, a culture where both women and men are equally considered as carers and as actors in the paid economy must be promoted. In order to achieve an equal sharing of care and domestic tasks, men s responsibility for care must be reinforced through public policies and the fight against gender stereotypes on all fronts. Media and educational systems are good spaces to work on the elimination of stereotypes. It is also essential to recognise the 3 A Eurobarometer survey of women who have completed fertility concluded that while they had an average of 2.1 children, they would have preferred to have had 2.3. Extracted from the Commission s document on Europe s Social Reality (http://ec.europa.eu/citizens_agenda/social_reality_stocktaking/docs/background_document_en.pdf) 3
economic value of care services provided by family members, the role of the not-for-profit sector in this field and the job creation potential of this sector. Public care policies and services in tandem with the elimination of traditional gender roles and stereotypes would have a positive impact on women s ability to participate in all aspects of social, economic, cultural and political life and, moreover, to increase birth rates. Despite the issue of reconciliation and care on the European political agenda and while some initiatives have been forthcoming, few feasible and real outcomes has been produced 4. Families in Europe are experiencing several transformations from which new models of families have emerged. These new models need to be taken into account when analysing social reality and when designing, implementing and monitoring new legislation. Within these new trends it is important to highlight the growth in single-parents families, the majority of which are headed by women. Along with the changes of family forms, the increase in single-parents (mostly women), and the changing conditions in the labour markets has led also to a transformation in the distribution of the risks of low income, including the working poor, poverty and social exclusion. Therefore, women are more exposed to poverty 5. 1.4. Migration Currently migration is one of the key issues shaping the European Union. The increase in ethnic and cultural diversity has become a reality in the EU today. However, there is a strong tendency to consider the phenomenon of migration from a utilitarian and economic point of view. The EWL strongly believes that a human rights approach is needed when addressing migration. A fundamental rights approach will contribute to ensuring that everybody has access to their fundamental rights (including civil, political, social, economic ad cultural rights) in full compliance with international agreements and Conventions, whatever their migration status. This approach implies treating migrants as women and men and considering their needs and their rights. A more positive discourse is urgently needed which values the contribution of migrant communities to European societies. The EWL strongly believes that is crucial to adopt a gender equality perspective to migration policies as well as a specific approach to address particular issues faced by migrant women. In this context, it is particularly important to highlight that one of the most important 4 Report on the 2007 Cambridge review of the National Reform Programmes (EMCO/27/141107/EN-final-revl) states that Barcelona targets (on child care) are no met by most Members States. 5 For specific data and indicators check: Study on Poverty &Social Exlcusion Among Lone-Parent Households in Europe. European Commission - Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs & Equal Opportunities 2007. http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/spsi/docs/social_inclusion/2007/study_lone_parents_en.pdf 4
obstacles for the integration of migrant women in the host societies derives from the dependency factor generated by the legal status. Dependency on the husband, in case of family reunification, on employment when entry to the EU is for economic purposes in a designated sector or due to the fact that their qualifications are not recognised, and on the State, for asylum seeking women. In order to achieve autonomy and social inclusion, migrant women must be guaranteed an independent legal status. Specific measures should be taken into consideration concerning all forms violence against women such as domestic violence, harmful traditional practices and trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation. Migrant women can be more vulnerable to these specific forms of violence because of their dependent legal status and their low precarious social and economic situation. Therefore, it is urgent to recognise that all forms of gender violence are crimes against women and particular forms of violence are experienced by migrant women. The participation in public and political life in the host societies is an essential for the integration of migrants. Both, political and social participation will guarantee the empowerment of migrant women, the chance to voice their interests and rights and participate fully in the public life of the host societies. Thus, campaigns to encourage migrant women to participate in public and political life in the host societies and mechanisms to ensure their participation in decision making bodies should be developed. Concerning women s sexual and reproductive rights and health of migrant women it is crucial to take into account that migrant women can be more vulnerable to violations of these rights due to their insecure economic, social and legal situation. Health and care rights must be granted for migrant women regardless their legal status. Finally, it is fundamental to address the issue relating to migrant women s employment opportunities many of whom have to take up particularly exploitative, low-paid and unsafe jobs. Due to the existing gender segregation on the labour market, migrant women experience multiple forms of discrimination. Therefore, the EWL stresses and highlights the need to recognise the role of migrant women in host societies as active actors and to provide mechanisms to give to their expression of their own needs and concerns. 2. Gender equality As highlighted in the Commission s document, gender equality is still far from being achieved. The EWL stresses that not only is this far from being achieved in terms of equal employment opportunities and equal sharing of responsibilities for child care, but also in 5
many other aspects such as in relation to the conditions and nature of jobs and equal sharing of responsibilities of domestic work and care of dependents. Sexism still remains rampant in society through gender stereotypes, traditional gender roles, attitudes and values. Furthermore, although women make up more than half of the population and electorate in the European Union they continue to be under-represented in all European Union decision-making bodies, in political decision-making in EU Member States and in economic and social decision-making. Moreover, some women such as young, disabled, lesbian, migrant and ethnic minority women face multiple discrimination in all of these areas. Violence against women is a structural phenomenon the cause of which is a direct result of gender inequality evidenced by the persistence all over the world. The figures of prevalence, that is the proportion of women in the general population who have experienced acts of violence, vary by methodology, but an overview figure suggests that across countries, onefifth to one quarter of all women have experienced violence at least once during their adult lives, and more than one-tenth have suffered sexual violence involving the use of force 6. The EWL also stresses that that feminist movements and women s organisations have been working and continue to work in all spheres of life in order to change societies and to achieve gender equality and the respect of women s human rights. Thus, it is not only new technology during the 1950 s that helped women to be released from traditional burdens of housework - as referred in the Commission s document, but feminist struggles, social and political activism and ideological and theoretical feminist literature raised awareness of the reality of women s situation among women which led to social, political, economic, ideological changes and transformations. Finally, the EWL stresses the need for systematic sex disaggregated statistics in order to have a comprehensive view and analysis of the reality of women and men lives in the changing Europe of today. The impact of political, legislative, social measures differ between women and men and the exact extent of these needs to be analysed and taken into consideration when examining societal changes and solutions. Sex disaggregated analysis and data can only provide a complete and true image of the transforming society and of Europe s social reality. X:/POLICY/Social Policy/EWL Contribution re: Europe s social reality 6 /SiteResources/data/MediaArchive/Violence%20Centre/resources/VAW%20g eneral%20resources/pdf_cdeg(2006)3_e%5b1%5d.pdf (Council of Europe - Directorate General of Human Rights. Combating violence against women. Stocktaking study on the measures and actions taken in Council of Europe member States, Strasbourg 2006) 6