Mikael Gustafsson: "I stand for a quality work-balance for both men and women"
Lower pay, professional glass ceiling, gender-based violence: there is no lack of challenges facing women today. Mikael Gustafsson, chair of the EP's women's rights committee, talked about these issues with our Facebook fans on 7 March. He also highlighted how the crisis had affected women more than men: "Women are more likely to work in the public sector than men, which has significantly been affected by austerity measures, and secondly women are more dependent on the welfare state."
Mr Gustafsson, a Swedish member of the GUE/NGL group, took part in the chat ahead of International Women's Day on 8 March, which this year is dedicated to how women have been affected by the crisis. "I think it is important that women are economically independent as that means you are free to take part in society on equal terms."
He said he favoured a 50% quota for women on corporate boards: "Today we have an informal male quota: men nominate men who in turn choose other men to fill posts, and so the cycle continues." He also supported quota for women at the EU institutions.
Many Facebook fans asked about parents staying at home to look after their children. Mr Gustafsson said: "Both parents should have the right to combine work and family life so that children can benefit from both their parents."
Mr Gustafsson said the women's rights committee would focus the coming months on how the crisis had affected gender equality, the best way to combat prostitution and protect sexual and reproductive health rights. He also raised concerns about the sexualisation of women in the media: "It disturbs me that men see they can have a right of access to women's bodies, whether it be through advertising, TV, prostitution, violence." MEPs will vote on a report concerning gender stereotypes in plenary next week.