Austerity Politics and Feminist Resistance in Finland: From Established Women’s Organizations to New Feminist Initiatives

Abstract

This book is a unique exploration into the gendered politics of the economic crisis in Europe. It focuses, firstly, on the changes in the political and economic decision-making institutions and processes of the EU and their consequences for gender equality policy. Secondly, the book analyses the gendered impacts of austerity politics on member states' gender equality policies, institutions, regimes, and debates. Finally, it addresses feminist and intersectional struggles and resistances against neoliberal, conservative and racist politics across Europe. The authors consider the gendered politics of the economic crisis from a variety of feminist approaches, shedding new light on the concept of the crisis and on questions of politics, institutions and intersectionality. The case studies included refer to different parts of Europe, from North to South and from East to West, capturing the multifaceted gendered impacts of the crisis. The volume will be of interest to students and scholars of politics, international relations, gender studies, economics, law, sociology, social policy, and European studies. . Gender and the Politics of the Economic Crisis in Europe -- A Policy in Crisis. The Dismantling of the EU Gender Equality Policy -- The Gender Politics of EU Economic Policy: Policy Shifts and Contestations Before and After the Crisis -- Opportunity and Setback? Gender Equality, Crisis and Change in the EU -- Gendering European Economic Narratives: Assessing the Costs of the Crisis to Gender Equality -- Gendering Poland's Crisis Reforms: A Europeanization Perspective -- The Gender Dynamics of Financialization and Austerity in the European Union--The Irish Case -- The Visibility (and Invisibility) of Women and Gender in Parliamentary Discourse During the Portuguese Economic Crisis (2008-2014) -- Whose Crisis Counts? Minority Women, Austerity and Activism in France and Britain -- Austerity Politics and Feminist Struggles in Spain: Reconfiguring the Gender Regime? -- Austerity Politics and Feminist Resistance in Finland: From Established Women's Organizations to New Feminist Initiatives -- Conclusions: Understanding Gender and the Politics of the Crisis in Europe.