THE EUROPEAN-UNION AND WOMENS RIGHTS - FROM THE EUROPEANIZATION OF NATIONAL AGENDAS TO THE NATIONALIZATION OF A EUROPEAN AGENDA

Whereas in other policy sectors, established, national policies have b ecome progressively 'Europeanized', the EC was a major catalyst in the generation and extension of national sex equality laws. The origins o f these policies lie in second-wave feminism during the late 1960s and 1970s which sought to 'reframe' the way in which policies affecting w omen were addressed. This article highlights the importance of the EC institutions, notably the European Commission and the European Court o f Justice in supporting the rights of working women and forcing nation al policy change. The impact of these measures has nevertheless been l imited by the existence of national 'policy hinterlands' based upon co nflicting policy frames. The future development of EC sex equality pol icies is uncertain. 'Mainstreaming' is a potentially important develop ment, but its success depends upon the willingness of policy-makers to consider routinely the gender dimension of policy options. The provis ions of the Amsterdam Treaty I:elating to sex equality may prove impor tant in this respect.