Legal Mobilization, Transnational Activism, and Gender Equality in the EU

This article focuses on the use of rights and legislations within the European Union as platforms which provide the legal opportunity for gender equality advocacy, and the effects of this use on transnational activism on political processes. The article focuses on the special role of equality agencies and legal experts in utilizing litigation strategies to pressure a greater scope of equality rights, and the social organization of advocates via informal networking to change policy frameworks. The article concludes that legal mobilization and political activism has altered the direction of, rules regarding and procedures governing EU gender equality. These changes have not only expanded gender equality laws but also have expanded the role of women within EU politics.