Discursive Opportunity Structures and Legal Mobilization for Gender Equality in Four Countries 1996-2006

41 Pages Posted: 3 Nov 2011 Last revised: 1 Jun 2013

See all articles by Gesine Fuchs

Gesine Fuchs

Lucerne School of Social Work; Gesine Fuchs - Research and Consultancy

Date Written: May 2013

Abstract

Legal mobilization in the courts and in political discourse has emerged as an increasingly important strategy of social movements that complements other political approaches. While strategic litigation is quite popular in some countries, movement actors in others have remained sceptical about the transformative potential of jurisdiction for structural problems. Which structural-institutional and socio-political factors can account for the different level of legal mobilization by social movements? Can legal mobilization contribute to social change? The paper looks into these questions by examining the extent and nature of strategic litigation for pay equity in four European civil law countries (Switzerland, Germany, France, and Poland). The central hypothesis is that different legal opportunity structures (material and procedural law, case law) and different discursive opportunity structures (values, norms and institutions that organize the discourse) affect different patterns of legal mobilization. Conducive legal opportunity structures (LOS) are a crucial precondition for mobilization and they are the result of past political conflict and historical developments. Where legal opportunity structures are inhibiting or negative, legal mobilization may nevertheless happen, if discursive and political opportunity structures are favourable and if scandalous cases are available. Discursive opportunity structures (DOS) are more diverse and multilayered. The paper looks into two aspects of DOS: mass media coverage and organizational features of DOS. Mass media coverage varies strongly between the countries and movement actors do not have much voice in it. Perceptions and experiences in organizations on gender equality are even more diverse, and strongly influence whether legal mobilization is seen as valuable strategy. Data comes from a research project, including court decisions, media discourse analysis and 60 interviews with activists and lawyers.

Keywords: legal mobilization, pay equity, gender, Germany, France, Switzerland, Poland, discursive opportunity structures

JEL Classification: J39. J71, K41

Suggested Citation

Fuchs, Gesine and Fuchs, Gesine, Discursive Opportunity Structures and Legal Mobilization for Gender Equality in Four Countries 1996-2006 (May 2013). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1954028 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1954028

Gesine Fuchs (Contact Author)

Gesine Fuchs - Research and Consultancy ( email )

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HOME PAGE: http://www.gesine-fuchs.net

Lucerne School of Social Work ( email )

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P. O. Box 2945
Luzern, CH-6002
Switzerland

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.hslu.ch/en/lucerne-school-of-social-work/

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