Feminist Tensions in Equality Policies: An Analysis of Gender Mainstreaming in the European Union. Carla Vanina Maenza TESIS DOCTORAL UPF/2018 DIRECTORA Dra. Marisa Iglesias I Vila. DEPARTAMENT DE DRET ii For my parents, Susana and Antonio, you live with me, through me, in me iii iv Acknowledgements This thesis is the product of love. Everything I do, I do fueled by love. This love is deep; it can travel through continents, time zones and oceans at times. It is there in everything I do and lights the fire from within. This section is to acknowledge everyone (I might forget some names) who over the years have been by my side, inspiring me, pushing me to be a better version of myself, and, most of all letting me love them while sharing moments, calls, whatsapp messages, trips, in sum, sharing life. One of the hardest tasks when completing this thesis was detaching myself from the passion I feel for this subject (my advisor has suffered because of this) and trying to convey a more nuanced objective methodological approach. However, I do need to acknowledge all of the people, experiences and circumstances that led me to this day, and that built me into who I am today. I could enjoy the pleasure of writing this thesis because of where and when I was born. I try not to naturalize that or forget all the privileges that got me to this place. Along the way there were many sacrifices. Mainly from my father and his parents, who emigrated from a broken post-war Italy to a land of opportunities, Argentina in the 50s. I see the sacrifices you have made; I acknowledge them and I live for you, through you, by you. When I started this dissertation, my theoretical knowledge on feminism was scarce. I was driven by passion by everyday sexist micro-aggressions that angered me. Throughout the course of these five years I was able to fully focus on building a feminist theoretical background and taking a step back to incorporate reason into my passion. I owe that to Universitat Pompeu Fabra in general, to the Department of Law in particular and most specifically to the area of Legal Philosophy. I need to thank Marisa Iglesias for her patience and her comments on each part of this dissertation, which were extremely helpful. You told me when I was starting to work on my proposal that if I decided to work with feminist thought; it would be difficult to go back. It was true then and it is true today, so thank you for letting me follow this path. v I believe in the value of Academia, understood as a permanent challenge to the world, as a challenge to the frontiers of previous knowledge. I thank the institution that believes in that as well and benefited me with an AGAUR scholarship that allowed me to fully complete this thesis. I was fortunate to share an office space for two years with amazing people and their partners and families that accompanied me through this journey and made the experience a little bit more enjoyable. Mariona, Alberto, Sebastián, Cristina, Marcos, Lorena, Oly, and Diego: thank you for sharing laughs, and giving me support in the slightest ways. You have helped me in more ways that you have known, just by sharing a lunch, a debate, a coffee or a bocata. I need to thank the people that made a personal dream come true: The Feminist Reading Group. Alex, Caro, Ana, Mariona, and everyone who joined us for even a session. At times when I felt uninspired, your fire reignited mine and I will forever be grateful. The fact that we are still an overseas group makes me happy, I am glad to consider you friends. While doing the Masters I met a wonderful person that ended up being my partner in this journey. Alex, I am glad to have shared an advisor, marathons, endless lunches and coffee breaks. This whole experience was easier shared arm in arm with you. I am thankful for your discipline, your passion, and your friendship. To all of the feminists cited in this dissertation and all those that stimulate me everyday, I hope that the work we are doing, is translated into a better world. I am fortunate to live in a time of a rebirth of the feminist movement, fueled by Ni Una Menos (the Argentinean movement to bring awareness to violence against women), Metoo (started by Tarana Burke), and many other movements that inspire me. To the people of the Institute of Education of University College London, who were extremely helpful in understanding education policies and helped me shape Chapter Six of this dissertation. Specifically Rosie Peppin Vaughan and Jessica Ringrose, who showed me kindness and welcomed me as one of their students. vi While growing up I was surrounded by magazines articles wondering if women and men (or boys and girls, at that age) could be friends. I found that question abhorrent, but I was not able to see the ways in which that set of ideas was based on a heteronormative system that was detrimental for women. Nonetheless, I was deeply convinced that it was non-sense. Now, I am happy to have such wonderful friends that always challenge and encourage me: Guidi, Tie, Agus, Mati BFF, Dogui, Martin, Nico, Guido, Roro, Tomi, Ramo, Juan, Guido F. To my great female friends, I value your friendship and we share our struggles, as we navigate a world that has in time filled us with privileges and mistreated us in others. To the friends that I made while becoming a lawyer, you are the reasons why I think the profession is essentially good. You inspire me to be better. Luper, Agus, Joey, Nati, and Leti, your support and friendship over the years have meant a lot to me. Thank you, thank you, thank you. LMo, you are my moral guide, I go to you for advice and I love our talks. Thank you for being so wise, yet so much fun. Laupi, I admire the challenges you have accomplished, you and Dominic are the testament that co-parenting exists and is possible, you are the example I tell everyone on why it is so important and Valen is the product of that. The critical spirit that lives in me is shared with a group of brilliant people that I consider my friends (Foro). Thank you Judge Sam, Guidi, Juan, for making me laugh, and supporting me in my best (Mia Farrow) and my worst. I was blessed with a group of friends that I have known for a very long time that always support me: Laschi. We have different approaches on life but we build on each other and we strive to do better always supporting us. I thank you for always believing in me and being there for me even when I was in a different time-zone. Belu, Luchi, Vane, Sofi, Mara, Malu, Jime, Mari, Caro, Flora, your friendship travels with me everywhere I go and our love is still strong. You all inspire me. To Xime, you taught me the meaning of sorority even without knowing it. I miss you every day but I see you in your mom and your vii sister, whom I adore. Ivi and Debo, I thank you for letting me be a part of your life. Mirouter is a group of friends that welcomed me as their own and continue to provide support even being far away. Marian, Agus, Gime, Yami, Evi, Celi, Pundi, you have been there for me in every step of the way. I thank you forever. Evi, you save lives, the passion you put into your work is admirable. I am thankful for having such a wonderful friend and 24 hour doctor by my side. You have always been there for me, and I am indebted forever. I hope that you see yourself in my eyes, to me you are wonderful. Celi, my Valentina, I am inspired by your love for the work you do. It amazes me and inspires me. Pundilla, our poodle-like energy synergies and gives me life, I thank you for always lighting me. Delfi, I wished that you wrote these acknowledgements. Your prose is so beautiful, so raw, so clear. I admire you and thank you for your friendship, for the many laughs and the chance to share never-ending conversations on anything and everything. Celi, you are a display of strength that encourages me every day. Your kindness and wisdom and our talks are of great value to me. I thank you for that. Vicky, my other set of fresher (blue) eyes. I felt less alone these final weeks knowing that I was working with you and Tomas. For that, I will always be extremely grateful. Thank you for that level of detail and your tenacity (or as you call it, “being controlled by anger”). Since I began this dissertation many new people were welcomed to this world, and filled me with new love: Titi, Valen, Hele, Beni, Lulu, Emma, Lanah, Valen, Tami, Eva and Lua. The possibility of living in Barcelona for five years gave me many gifts, but none more important that the friends that I made: My master friends, you were my first friends in a new city, in a new continent, you helped me lived one of the best years of my life and I look back on the experiences we shared and hope the bond we created will sustain the test of time.