Introduction: Rethinking gender equality since the turn of the millennium

Abstract

Since the turn of the millennium, many countries across Europe have taken legislative action to increase gender equality in the fields of economy, family and politics. Equal pay policies, corporate board quotas, parental leave reforms and electoral gender quotas have brought innovations to the gender order and to the gender culture of many societies. This introduction gives an overview over the policy measures which have been implemented in the last 15 years and presents different theoretical approaches to analyse them with regard to their effects and outcomes. Furthermore, we raise the question whether fast-track solutions are preferable to long-term cultural changes, and under which institutional and political conditions policies can actually have an effect on gender equality.