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EU and the Export of Gender Equality Norms: Myth and Facts

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Gender Equality Norms in Regional Governance

Part of the book series: Gender and Politics Series ((GAP))

Abstract

On the occasion of 50 years of the European Union, one of the ten most important achievements of the Union was claimed to be the progress made in terms of gender equality (BBC 2007). With its formal laws and advancements in terms of monitoring the position of women and men in Europe (EIGE 2013), the EU claims to be a world leader and role model (EU 2007) and is convinced that:

Through all relevant policies under its external action, the EU can exercise significant influence in fostering gender equality and women’s empowerment worldwide. (DG Justice External Relations Gender Equality; http://ec.europa.eu/justice/gender-equality/development-cooperation/index_en.htm)

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© 2014 Alison E. Woodward and Anna van der Vleuten

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Woodward, A.E., van der Vleuten, A. (2014). EU and the Export of Gender Equality Norms: Myth and Facts. In: van der Vleuten, A., van Eerdewijk, A., Roggeband, C. (eds) Gender Equality Norms in Regional Governance. Gender and Politics Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137301451_4

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