Emancipation Monitor 2010

Original title: Emancipatiemonitor 2010

How is the emancipation process progressing in the Netherlands? According to some observers, it is progressing far too slowly. They call for far-reaching measures such as quotas to ensure that more women are represented in senior positions. Others believe that the emancipation process is complete and think the pendulum is swinging too much the other way. Women make up the majority of students on many education courses, and are also a rapidly growing majority in more and more occupations and sectors of society, especially in the younger generations.

The Emancipation Monitor investigates what is actually happening as regards emancipation in the Netherlands. It scrutinises the position of women and men in a large number of domains of life. It adopts a broad approach that encompasses education, paid employment, the combination of work and care tasks, income, political and public decision-making. It also devotes attention to women as victims of violence.

Despite the economic crisis, the labour participation rate of women has grown and more women have become economically independent. In addition, the progression of women to senior positions has gained more momentum in recent years. On the other hand, little change can be observed in the number of hours the women work and - associated with this - views on the division of tasks in the family and the importance of women having their own income.