Eu Gender Equality Law: Concepts, Practice, Challenges

EU gender equality law has expanded considerably in scope, evolving from its modest origins as a single provision on equal pay in the 1957 Treaty of Rome into a complex body of Treaty provisions, directives, and case law that shapes gender equality across the Member States. The pace of the legal developments can make the field challenging to navigate for practitioners, policymakers, and academics alike. EU Gender Equality Law: Concepts, Practice, Challenges provides an essential guide through this multifaceted area of law.

The book offers a comprehensive English-language analysis of this dynamic field, written by three leading scholars in equality, EU, and human rights law. Grounded in feminist legal theory and taking a law-in-context approach, the book address achievements and current limitations of the legislation, CJEU case law, and implementation at the EU and national levels. It also gives attention to the most recent directives, including in particular the Work-Life Balance and Pay Transparency Directives.

Core concepts such as sex and gender, equality, and different forms of discrimination are examined, not only within the general foundations of EU law but also in the broader context of international human rights law. The book provides in-depth discussions of equal pay; gender equality at work; pregnancy, maternity, and work-life balance; equal access to goods and services; and effective enforcement.

Throughout, EU Gender Equality Law moves beyond the current state of the law and practice, critically reflecting on the role law can play in sustaining inequality. It also takes a forward-looking perspective, exploring possibilities the law offers to address structural gender inequality and to contribute to transformative equality.

Alexandra Timmer, Associate Professor of Human Rights Law, Utrecht University,Linda Senden, Professor of European Law, Utrecht University,Susanne Burri, Senior expert in gender equality, European network of legal experts in gender equality and non-discrimination

Alexandra Timmer is associate professor of human rights law at Utrecht University. She is Co-Director of the Netherlands Institute of Human Rights (SIM) and Co-Director of the Utrecht Centre for Regulation and Enforcement in Europe (RENFORCE). Her research focuses on (in)equality and non-discrimination in EU law, the European Convention on Human Rights, international human rights treaties, and Dutch law. She is Member of the Dutch State Commission against Discrimination and Racism and senior coordinator gender equality of the European Network of Legal Experts in Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination.

Linda Senden is full professor of European law at Utrecht University. She is Co-Director of the interdisciplinary UU-Platform on Gender, Diversity and Global Justice, specialist coordinator of gender equality of the European Network of Legal Experts in Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination, project leader of the Horizon Europe RE-WIRING project on realizing women's and girls' inclusion, representation, and empowerment and the Dutch UN Women Representative 2026. She was previously a Co-Director of the Utrecht Centre for Regulation and Enforcement in Europe (RENFORCE) and Member of the European integration committee of the Advisory Council on International Affairs of the Dutch government and parliament.

Susanne Burri specializes in EU legal issues of (in)equality and non-discrimination, work-life balance, and atypical work relations. She was part of Utrecht University School of Law from 1993 until her retirement in July 2020. She worked for the section of Gender and Law, Constitutional and Administrative Law and Legal Theory, and participated in the research program on Family Law (UCERF). She is currently a guest associate professor at Utrecht University. Since 2007, she has been involved in the European Network of Legal Experts in Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination, as coordinator of the gender strand until 2015 and currently as senior expert in gender equality.