The Eradication of Poverty A qualitative study of European level work to eradicate poverty among women

Abstract

The European Union has long been leading in women’s rights and has worked to integrate a gender perspective in all policy documents. Although many efforts for women’s rights have been taken, gender equality is not yet reached. The reasons why women experience poverty still differ to that of men. The purpose of this study was to examine and highlight European level work done to eradicate poverty among women in Europe. The main empirical focus was set on European Institutions and Non-governmental Organisations as well as the Europe 2020 Strategy. The study had a qualitative approach and was based on seven semistructured interviews with professionals as well as document analyses of three Europe 2020 documents. A thematic analysis was used to examine the empirical data with support of the main theoretical perspectives: power, gender system and neo-functionalism. The main conclusions showed that the Europe 2020 Strategy was created with the goal to bring at least 20 million people out of poverty, but lacked women specific measures. Within social policy, the principle of subsidiarity governs meaning that European level instruments to eradicate poverty were not made binding, nor where Women’s rights made priority. Furthermore, Non-governmental Organisations called for more formalised involvement and direct participation of people experiencing poverty..