The SynEga project is a study on the gender equality policy of trade unions in Switzerland since 1990. How is the policy that targets gender equality within the trade unions and in other occupational contexts developed and implemented? What factors are beneficial, and what factors act as impediments?
Background
Despite important steps forward for women, far-reaching inequalities between men and women still persist in Switzerland and other countries. Although this is a known fact, little research has been done, particularly in Switzerland, on how the trade unions contribute towards the promotion of gender equality or the rise and persistence of inequalities. Trade unions play an important role in working life and, in Switzerland and Europe, they have recently made gender equality one of their policy goals. For this reason, the project will analyse how gender equality policies are implemented within and by the trade unions of Switzerland and investigate what measures they use to promote gender equality within their own ranks and in a broader context.
Aim
The SynEga project will analyse how the trade unions mobilise for gender equality and implement the relevant measures. In addition, it will learn more about the behaviour of actors in the trade unions with regard to issues such as division of labour among men and women activists or jobs and careers. Finally, it will examine the role of gender relations in these steps towards equality or inequality. The project will study trade unions in the two umbrella organisations (Swiss Federation of Trade Unions and Travail Suisse) in the German, French, and Italian speaking regions of Switzerland. The methods used will include document analysis, group and individual interviews, observation and questionnaires.
Significance
Gender equality is an important issue for everyone, men and women. For this reason, more background knowledge is urgently needed on the mechanisms of gender equality policy, and with the latest radical changes in the trade unions this knowledge has become even more important. The results of the research project will help trade unions and other public agencies (such as gender equality offices) as well as actors in the economic and political spheres to develop and align their gender equality strategies. Beyond that, the SynEga project seeks to fill research gaps in this area at national and international level.
Original title: Les syndicats et l’égalité entre les sexes en Suisse. Politiques, mobilisations, pratiques.
Grant: CHF 399‘991.-
Duration: 36 months
Project leaders
- Professor Olivier Fillieule, Institut d'études politiques et internationales (IEPI), University of Lausanne
- Dr. Martina Avanza, Centre de recherche sur l'action politique de l'Université de Lausanne (CRAPUL), University of Lausanne