Summary of the impact

Over the last seven years Surrey's research on the political representation and working practices of women has had significant influence on public debate about gender equality in Europe. The research has resulted in a number of high level policy and media debates about the position and role of working mothers, for example BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour. The Fabians' women network has also benefited from the work in shaping the network's presentation of key debates on women's rights in the UK.

Underpinning research

Surrey's research, led by Dr Guerrina, that underpins this impact case study started in the late 1990s and is continuing today. The main aims of the research are:

1. Identify key values entrenched in policy documents seeking to promote the workforce participation of women with young children, as well as reconciliation between work and family life.
2. Unpack and evaluate the role of values in shaping European and national policies for the reconciliation between work and family life.

The main research questions underpinning this body of research are:

1. What are the stated objectives of reconciliation policies? Are these objectives supported by the development of socio-economic structures?
2. What are the core values (and hegemonic discourses) present in the policies and how have they shaped the overall objectives of reconciliation policies as formulated at the national and European level?

The research undertaken at Surrey investigates the scope of reconciliation policies in the EU. The wider context of analysis is the development of a European equality agenda based on the activation of women with care responsibilities. The research focuses on unpacking key discursive frames underpinning the development of policies aimed at improving work-life balance. This approach to the research allows for a detailed discussion of gender norms, power and the role of Europeanization in the development of this particular policy area. Finally, this research has produced a detailed map of the impact of European policies on the development of women's employment rights at the national level. Case studies, namely the UK and Italy, are used to illustrate the significance of the EU as a gender actor.

The key outputs listed below detail the influence of values and social norms about women's position in society, equality, politics and employment on the overall scope of maternity rights and reconciliation policies at the national and European level.

Focusing mainly on the analysis of dominant discourses about gender in key policy documents, this body of research makes a substantial contribution to a growing body of literature on the EU as a gender actor, as well as policy debates about work-life balance in the 21^st Century.

References to the research

Details of the impact

Over the last seven years Dr Guerrina has provided policy briefings to a range of organisations based on research undertaken at Surrey at both the UK and EU levels in terms of emerging policy on maternity leave provision and paternal leave.

Based on this body of research undertaken at Surrey, Dr Guerrina has become an active and on-going media commentator on these issues. Through this engagement the findings of this research, particularly relating to recent British government shifts in maternity leave provision and reductions in employers' provisions in the context of the economic crisis, have reached a wide audience.

The main areas of impact are:

Contributing to a wider public understanding of policy and maternity leave provision, through programme development and contribution to the BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour, for example; "The results of the Italian elections, 2013". Dr Guerrina's research shaped the coverage of the 2013 Italian political elections.

Dr Guerrina's research on gender politics in Europe directly influenced the theme of the Fabians' women network debate at the Labour Party Annual Conference fringe event in 2012. The event's focus on the role of Europe in promoting women's rights was triggered by Surrey's research on women's political representation in Italy and the politics of gender in the EU.

Furthermore Surrey's research contributed to the debate organised by the European Parliament UK office on "What has Europe done for Women?" at Europe House on 7^th March 2013 and resulted in the publication of a short essay on the same theme, later used by the Chair of the European Movement in his briefing on gender equality in the EU.

Surrey's research on working practices, gender and the political sphere has contributed to the wider public understanding of such policies, through interactions with the public, examples of which are detailed below:

1. BBC Radio 4, Woman's Hour Interview: (2013) "What has the EU done for Women?" In this interview Dr Guerrina debated the role of the EU as a gender actor. In particular she discussed the historical development of EU gender equality policies and the impact of EU legislation on development of an equality framework in the UK.
2. BBC Radio 4, Woman's Hour Interview (2011): "Women and Politics in Post-Berlusconi Italy". In this interview the overall impact of the Berlusconi years on the politics of gender in Italy was discussed and expanded to consider the position of women in Parliament and the employment market. Finally, during the interview Dr Guerrina explored the impact of recent political changes in the Italian government on the relative position of women in Italian politics and economics.
3. BBC Radio 4, Woman's Hour Interview (2005): "Which country is best for working mothers?" In this interview Dr Guerrina compared the level and quality of maternity leave provision in a number of European countries. She also discussed the impact of EU policies on the development of national provisions for the reconciliation between work and family life.
4. Keynote at Fatherhood Institution workshop (2009): This workshop sought to explore key issues in relation to the development of a comprehensive parental leave agenda. Dr Guerrina's contribution related to the impact of current reconciliation on reproducing gender hierarchies and divisions of labour. The workshop was organised by NatCen, the National Centre of Social Research, and the audience included practitioners and policy makers.
5. Keynote at European Policy Centre and Equality and Human Rights Commission Workshop (2010). Dr. Guerrina shared the platform at this event with Director, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, European Commission. The workshop was attended by key European Social Partners, representatives of the European Women's Lobby and the Social Platform.
6. Keynote at Fabians' women network fringe event at the 2012 Labour Party conference, the research undertaken at Surrey contributed to the Fabians' Women Network event on gender equality and austerity, as well as contributing a keynote address to the Fabian Society Europe Conference (2013) on the impact of the crisis on working mothers in Europe. This interview led to increasing contact and exchanges with key actors in civil society organisations, such as the editor of Fabiana Magazine.

Sources to corroborate the impact

a) Testimony from BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour Assistant Producer. (Provided statement)

b) Testimony from 2nd BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour Producer (Provided statement)

c) Editor of Fabiana (Contact details provided)

d) Testimony from European Parliament UK Office (Provided statement)

e) Chair European Movement in London (Provided statement)

f) Roberta Guerrina on BBC Woman's Hour 14 July, 2005
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/2005_28_thu_01.shtml

g) Roberta Guerrina on BBC Woman's Hour 2011
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00m1ydl

h) Roberta Guerrina on BBC Woman`s Hour 2013 http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01r113l http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01qkpg2