In the Search for a Room of One’s Own. Gendered Power Structures in the Council of the European Union
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Abstract
Adopting a feminist institutionalist approach, the article examines the power dynamics and resistance involved in establishing a dedicated Council of the European Union configuration for gender equality. The study reveals the significant role of rules, strategic alliances, institutional and individual actors, and procedural precedents in advancing or hindering gender equality initiatives. Through a combination of document analysis and the author's unique insider perspective based on accidental ethnography approach, the article provides an in-depth look at the formal and informal mechanisms that shape gender equality policy in the Council. The findings underscore the complex interplay of actors’ interest, offering insights into the persistent challenges of achieving gender equality within this key albeit understudied EU institution.
Keywords: Council of the EU, Gender Mainstreaming, Ethnography, Feminist Institutionalism
Bibliography: Szkuta, Katarzyna: In the Search for a Room of One’s Own. Gendered Power Structures in the Council of the European Union, Femina Politica – Zeitschrift für feministische Politikwissenschaft, 2-2025, pp. 61-74.
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