While equality between women and men in the European Union is not expected to be achieved for more than sixty years, according to the projections of the ‘Gender Equality Index 2023’ of the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) - and this without even taking into account possible political setbacks - on Wednesday 30 July the European Institute for Gender Equality published a foresight guide to help equality advocates in anticipating changes that will enable public policies to be better targeted.
This document draws on five issues identified during workshops held in 2024 with experts from across the European Union (digital transformation and automation, the green transition and the impact of climate change, changes in work and economic models, the rise of anti-rights movements and political polarisation, and demographic change and diversity management) to integrate thinking about possible futures - in other words, foresight - into gender equality strategies.
The EIGE provides food for thought on issues such as: - How can data biases in artificial intelligence algorithms exacerbate discrimination?; - What impact can energy transition policies have on the employment of women in the industrial sectors?; - What does the rise of remote work mean for persistent domestic inequalities?; - How to be protected from a backlash against women’s rights in the event of a major political change?
The guide therefore proposes anticipating emerging trends, building alternative scenarios and defining long-term action trajectories, rather than simply reacting to crises once they have arisen. In this sense, it provides decision-makers, researchers, civil society organisations and businesses with concrete, adaptable tools for organising workshops for collaborative reflection on the future of gender equality.
Also, according to the institute, by integrating these tools, political decision-makers and administrations will be able to develop a capacity for anticipation in terms of gender equality that will enable them to take account of uncertainty, possible disruptions and the diversity of possible future scenarios. In this way, the EIGE hopes to encourage the emergence of more resilient, inclusive and proactive policies.
To read the guide: https://aeur.eu/f/i3a (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)