Erfolge, Defizite und zukünftige Anforderungen der Gleichstellungspolitik

This article deals with the foundations, developments and current challenges facing gender equality policy as a contribution to an inclusive social policy. Based on the results of the First and Second Equality Report for Germany and further analyses, progress and deficits of equality and gender equality policy in Germany and Europe are examined. Based on three perspectives on equality policy, problems of this policy field are pointed out. Firstly, the focus is on the inconsistent signals of gender equality policy due to the design of German labour market and social policy, combined with the observation of increasing intersectional inequalities. Secondly, the complexity of gender equality policy in the multi-level political system is problematised. Finally, the de facto loss of significance and the economically motivated narrowing of gender equality policy in the EU in times of austerity are discussed. In the final section, desiderata for a strengthening of equality policy structures and approaches at the company level are outlined.