Gender roles sex equality: European solutions to social security disputes

Matters of sex equality in social security schemes are strongly regulated by European law, but this is not sufficiently known and applied. In the European Union- like almost everywhere in the World - women are disadvantaged in terms of income and social security; statistics demonstrates a significant discrepancy of benefits paid to women and men. Social security systems continue to be influenced by the male breadwinner model and contain sex-related distinctions that may disadvantage men and women.

This volume works from the premise that knowledge of supra-national law and the machinery to enforce it is essential to overcoming sex-related disadvantages. It provides information on the nature and functioning of European law and on a monitoring system that is unique and highly effective.

The issue of sex equality is placed in the wider context of historical and socio-economic development. A valuable resource of government officials, social partners and legal experts, the book describes how European law is made and how it operates. It explores the specific instruments statutory and occupational schemes and equal treatment at the workplace, as interpreted by the European Court of Justice. It also offers an array of useful checklists for legal practitioners and includes a list of the relevant legal instruments.