Swiss Gender Equality Policy in Context

---

Abstract

In some respects, Switzerland is an exception in Western Europe when it comes to gender relations: late and contested female enfranchisment (1971), conservative social division of labour between men and women, late and frugal maternity leave. In other respects, however, Switzerland is situated around the European average, like in terms of women’s political representation or with regards to female employment rates. This panel explores the exceptionalism thesis and aims to situate ECPG’s 2017 host country in the context of European democracies and thus provide a deeper understanding of the chances for progressive gender equality policies.. The contributions of the panel will explore how the specific features of the Swiss political system – such as strong cooperative federalism, consensus democracy, the federal structure, or recent transformations of the liberal-conservative Swiss welfare regime – have impacted gender relevant policies and politics. Policies covered include Women’s Policy Agencies, equal opportunity policies, parental leave regimes and political participation.

Title	Details
The Swiss Leave Scheme at Crossroads: Parental- and Paternity-Leave Policy Proposals and their Implications for Gender Equality	View Paper Details
Women’s Policy Agencies in Switzerland: Institutional Potential and Political Conflict	View Paper Details
Gender Inequalities in Lone Parenthood: The Swiss Case	View Paper Details
The Economic Benefit Discourse in the Swiss Policy for Gender Equality in the Workplace	View Paper Details
Pathways to Power: Women in Swiss Institutional Politics	View Paper Details