This book breaks new ground in gender and politics research by studying the multiple ways in which gender and intersectional equalities shape and are shaped by social partners representing employers and employees in Europe as well as the relationships between those social partners Little critical attention has been paid to these organizations yet as this volume illustrates social partners are important actors in relation to gender and other inequalities at the level of both individual European countries and the European Union The chapters in this volume explore the impact of social partners on in equalities in a variety of 21st century political contexts taking into account phenomena such as neoliberalisation austerity and the COVID 19 crisis This volume adds a crucial dimension to studies on gender inequalities in the labour market contributing to research on issues such as domestic work the gender pay gap and the persistent undervaluation of women s labour and feminized reproductive labour in particular care work It also represents a significant contribution to the literature on gender equality policy The book s focus on social partners provides important insights that help to explain the persistence of gender inequalities and the difficulties of adopting and implementing policies to combat them This volume should appeal to students and researchers of gender studies politics European politics employment relations and international relations as well as to policymakers engaged in addressing gender inequalities in the labour market
