Gender Mainstreaming - Kioskvältare eller dagslända?

The European Union's work on equal opportunities for women and men can be described historically in three eras; equal treatment, positive action and, most recently, the gender perspective. In accordance with the latter, gender mainstreaming is the latest method in dealing with these issues. Its aim is the implementation of the gender perspective in all policy processes and to challenge the male norm that permeates all decision making. EU:s work on equal opportunities, though, persists not only of gender mainstreaming but has a double approach also including special actions. This thesis bases its argumentation on discourse analysis of communications from the Commission regarding employment and social affairs. It argues that the two components of the double approach; gender mainstreaming and special actions, are incompatible and even becomes contra productive put together. Analysis of the communications reveals a mix-up between the meanings of special action and of positive action. The focus on women in positive action influences the special actions so that they become incompatible with the gender perspective where both men and women are supposed to be equally central. The double approach thereby fails in challenging the male norm of the policy processes, which was the aim of gender mainstreaming