Gender equality in motion: the transformative power of new social movements in the EU and Türkiye
2025, 2025, No. 4
Publication date
Submission date
Acceptance date
Publishing model
License type
Field
Discipline
Language of publication
Abstract
Gender equality remains an unfinished global project despite decades of policy reform and feminist activism. This article examines gender equality through the lens of new social movement theory, drawing on a qualitative integrative review of sociological, gender studies, and policy-oriented literature. The study explores how grassroots activism and institutional responses interact in shaping outcomes related to labour market inequality, wage disparities, and work–life balance. Particular attention is given to intersectionality, highlighting how contemporary movements in the European Union and Türkiye address diverse and unequal experiences among women. Rather than presenting new empirical data, the study synthesises existing research to identify key patterns, achievements, and enduring challenges. The analysis demonstrates that while significant progress has been made in areas of education and political participation, structural and cultural barriers continue to limit full equality. The article argues that gender equality should be understood not merely as a policy objective, but as an ongoing process of social transformation sustained by collective action and institutional engagement.
Keywords:
Bibliography
ANYIDOHO Nana Akua, CRAWFORD Gordon, MEDIE Peace A. (2021), The role of women’s movements in the implementation of gender-based violence laws, „Politics & Gender”, vol. 17, issue 3. DOI: 10.1017/S1743923X19000849
AULIA Syifa Siti, MARZUKI, SUYATO Suyato, ARPANNUDIN Iqbal (2024), Women in gender equality movement: a systematic literature review, “Frontiers in Sociology”, vol. 9, Article 1432383. DOI: 10.3389/fsoc.2024.1432383
BECK Ulrich, BECK-GERNSHEIM Elisabeth (1995), The normal chaos of love, Polity Press.
BECKWITH Karen (2000), Beyond compare? Women’s movements in comparative perspective, „European Journal of Political Research”, vol. 37, issue 4. DOI: 10.1111/1475-6765.00521
BLAU Francine D., KAHN Lawrence M. (2017), The gender wage gap: extent, trends, and explanations, „Journal of Economic Literature”, vol. 55, no. 3. DOI: 10.1257/jel.20160995
CASTELLS Manuel (1997), The power of identity (Vol. 2), Blackwell.
CRENSHAW Kimberle (1989), Demarginalizing the intersection of race and sex: a Black feminist critique of antidiscrimination doctrine, feminist theory and antiracist politics, „University of Chicago Legal Forum”, vol. 1989, issue 1.
EUROPEAN COMMISSION (2020a), Striving for a Union of Equality: The Gender Equality Strategy 2020–2025, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg. DOI: 10.2775/671326
EUROPEAN COMMISSION (2020b), Gender Equality Strategy 2020–2025 – Factsheet, https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/dd6c86ef-9929-4f71-a5d7-0043b1677c76_en?filename=gender_equality_strategy_factsheet_en.pdf (05.03.2020).
EIGE, European Institute for Gender Equality (2023), Gender Equality Index 2023: Towards a green transition in the EU, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg. DOI: 10.2839/64810
FRASER Nancy (2022), Cannibal capitalism: How our system is devouring democracy, care, and the planet –and what we can do about it, New York – London.
GOLDIN Claudia (2014), A grand gender convergence: its last chapter, „American Economic Review”, vol. 104, no. 4. DOI: 10.1257/aer.104.4.1091
GEO, Government Equalities Office (2019), Gender equality at every stage: A roadmap for change, Policy paper, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gender-equality-at-every-stage-a-roadmap-for-change (03.07.2019).
GEO, Government Equalities Office (2020), How flexible working can help close the gender pay gap UK Government Equalities Office Blog, https://equalities.blog.gov.uk/2020/01/16/how-flexible-working-can-help-close-the-gender-pay-gap/ (16.01.2020).
ILO, International Labour Organization (2022), Care at work: Investing in care leave and services for a more gender equal world of work, https://www.ilo.org/publications/major-publications/care-work-investing-care-leave-and-services-more-gender-equal-world-work (07.03.2022).
KANTOLA Johanna, LOMBARDO Emanuela (2023), The European Parliament as a gender equality actor: a contradictory forerunner, in: Marian Sawer, Lee A. Banaszak, Jacqui True, Johanna Kantola (eds), Handbook of Feminist Governance, Edward Elgar Publishing. DOI: 10.4337/9781800374812.00033
MELUCCI Alberto (1989), Nomads of the present : social movements and individual needs in contemporary society, Temple University Press.
PAGE Matthew J., McKENZIE Joanne E., BOSSYUT Patrick M. et al. (2021), The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews, „BMJ”, no.71. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.n71
RUIZ-EUGENIO Laura, VALLS-CAROL Rosa, FLECHA Ainhoa, AUBERT Adriana (2024), A systematic literature review and case study on the social impact of the other women’s contributions to education and dialogic feminism, „Frontiers in Sociology”, vol. 9. DOI: 10.3389/fsoc.2024.1477983
SNYDER Hannah (2019), Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines, „Journal of Business Research”, vol. 104. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.039
TAYLOR Verta, VAN DYKE Nella (2004),“Get up, Stand up”: Tactical repertoires of social movements, in: David A. Snow, Sarah A. Soule, Hanspeter Kriesi (eds), The Blackwell companion to social movements, Blackwell Publishing.
UN WOMEN (2023), Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The Gender Snapshot 2023, United Nations, https://bit.ly/gender-snapshot-2023 (30.09.2023).
WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM (2023), Global Gender Gap Report 2023, https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GGGR_2023.pdf (31.07.2023).
XIAO Yu, WATSON Maria (2019), Guidance on conducting a systematic literature review, „Journal of Planning Education and Research”, vol. 39, issue 1. DOI: 10.1177/0739456X17723971
Other articles from the issue
- lifelong learningright to educationEU laweducational policy
The conceptualisation of the idea of lifelong learning in EU law: a historical-legal approach
- European Union (EU)public diplomacyresiliencepractice theorytechnoscientific giftsEuropean Southern Neighbourhood
Empowering the Southern Neighbourhood through research-intense projects: the untapped EU’s public diplomacy potential
- gender equalityPolandTürkiyewomencultureautomotive industry
The influence of culture and religion on the role of women in business – a case study of a Polish and Turkish automotive company
Similar publications
- lifelong learningright to educationEU laweducational policy
The conceptualisation of the idea of lifelong learning in EU law: a historical-legal approach
- European Union (EU)public diplomacyresiliencepractice theorytechnoscientific giftsEuropean Southern Neighbourhood
Empowering the Southern Neighbourhood through research-intense projects: the untapped EU’s public diplomacy potential
- gender equalityPolandTürkiyewomencultureautomotive industry
The influence of culture and religion on the role of women in business – a case study of a Polish and Turkish automotive company