Gender Equality in Malta: a Southern European Perspective

Abstract

This article looks at current gender equality measures, within wider social policy formation, in the smallest EU member state of Malta. The theoretical approach combines discussion of the effect of past histories on present measures, of the State and the 'power resources' of trade unions, of supranational actors such as the EU and of Roman Catholic discourses. This is especially relevant regarding the contest between the recent state promotion of employment for married females and mothers, and the Church's continued antipathy to such practices1. The impact of the EU on Maltese policy is evident not only in the local legislative compliance with Directives and Recommendations, and in the setting up of national equality machinery, but Dr Mary Darmanin is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Education, University of Malta, Malta. She has publications in the field of gender in education, women in the labour market and policy-making in education and in social policy. She has been a member of the working group on Gender in the National Curriculum, Ministry of Education Malta and on the Malta Labour Party's Consultative Committee on