Unpacking the Russian doll: gendered and intersectionalized categories in European gender equality policies (original) (raw)

Both theoretically and normatively, the question of whether and how to generalize or specify gendered social actors in policy-making has been much debated. While some stress the need to specify and intersectionalize actors so that interfering power dynamics can be addressed, others highlight the dangers involved in any reification of social categories. This paper analyzes the actual gendered and intersectionalized category-making of social actors in gender equality policies across Europe, using a database of 2088 recent laws, policy plans, and civil society documents on gender equality from 29 countries plus the EU level. Analyzing four policy issues, we find that the generic category "women" is often present, although less in laws. Intersectionalized categories, however, are rare, as is an articulation of these actors' specific problems or how policies could address their needs. Lastly, we find the category of minoritized women more often used in ways that are open to stigmatization.