Suchergebnisse

Examines the circumstances under which party strategies to promote women are established, 1980s; West Germany and Great Britain, chiefly.

Party politics in GB has impeded networking across government agencies to promote women's policies, so only two state agencies devoted to this topic exist. The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) opened its doors in 1975 to enforce & develop equality legislation, following passage of the Sex Discrimination Act. Women's interests are also addressed by the small advisory agency, the Women's National Commission. The origins, organizational structure, activities, & influence of the EOC 1975-present are described. After years of ambivalence, the EOC changed course in 1988 to mainstream sex equality policy, but inequalities in pay scales, occupations, child care provision, & welfare continue. The EOC had some early failures, & has excluded certain feminist organization policy making, so there is pressure for the establishment of a Ministry of Women apart from the EOC. M. Pflum

Although it is over ten years since major legislation was enacted, equal opportunities remains a controversial issue in Britain. This has affected its implementation in a variety of ways. The article reviews arguments over the meaning of equal opportunities policy, its meaning in the British case and the way it is affected by the British conception of rights. Consideration is given to the experience of implementation by the relevant administrative agencies and local authorities. Particular attention is paid to the area of training. A concluding discussion suggests that market forces may provide the impetus for new developments in the implementation of British equality policy.