7. Gender Equality and Family

After decades of radical challenges, the family is currently enjoying renewed societal and political appreciation as a core pillar of society and as a place of safety and regeneration. We can see this in the wealth of policies and practices designed to promote and support the family. While this trend was initially driven by political decision-makers, a growing number of companies are now backing the provisions and adding their own. The reasons for this targeted support for families are the declining birth rates and the associated demographic and labor market implications. The European Social Charter of 1996 also attaches special importance to the family in Article 16. It states: “The family as a fundamental unit of society has the right to appropriate social, legal and economic protection to ensure its full development.” What is meant by this, of course, is not a retreat into the family but rather the idea that all family members should be able to develop their full potential within the social context of the family. This includes, among other things, the opportunity for both parents to pursue a career.