Organisations and the nature of work have undergone fundamental changes in recent decades. At the same time, the traditional family pattern in Europe is being challenged by the growing number of dual-income families, and by the rise of women's employment. The central aim of this book is to consider to what extent changes in organisations and in the nature of jobs are compatible with the need, increasingly expressed by employees, for greater integration between work and family life. The book questions what sort of dilemmas modern and future employees face, in terms of shaping their careers and organising their lives at home. The authors formulate answers to these problematic questions by shedding light on relevant developments in the European labour markets, the European workplaces, in (flexible) working patterns, changing preferences for working hours and in gender relations at work. With a focus on future developments, this book will be of interest to labour market researchers and social policymakers in Europe, and also students in the social sciences, management (HRM) and social policy.

Labour market inequalities are a feature which all European countries share. This book provides a comparative perspective of sexual inequality in the 12 member-states of the European Union. Different aspects of inequality are discussed and presented: participation rates, occupational segregation, income differences, careers and the division of unpaid work. Another aspect that is examined is the position of women from ethnic minorities in the labour market. After presenting the facts, the book then looks at economic and sociological theories for possible explanations and integrates them into a single framework that provides starting points for a policy to promote equality between the sexes.

The second part of the book explores different policy measures promoted by the EU to advance equal opportunities. After presenting the equal opportunities of the EU, particular instruments are discussed such as the impact of EU directives, child care policies, positive action and comparable worth strategies. In addition the position of women in trade unions and their influence upon European decision making in the field of social policy is looked at. The book concludes with an exploration of what the future has in store for women in Europe.

First published in 1999, this volume aims to go beyond this debate is to explore the factors which have contributed to women's exclusion from rights and full citizenship. Beginning by linking the construction of a dichotomous relationship between public and private spheres to the theory and practice of women's exclusion, it attempts to move beyond critique and open up an alternative, more positive project. More than a feminist analysis, this project is fundamental to constructing a new understanding of politics and the political process.