This course examines the question of gender in relation to employment, with particular emphasis on Greece and European member states. The study of employment is complex and multidimensional, taking into account gender, race, ethnicity, age, level of education and skills, type of activity, and field of employment. The course analyses vertical and horizontal gender discrimination in the labour market and especially in businesses at the national, European and international level, examining how these processes affect employment in the context of globalization. Various theoretical approaches (sociological, economic, legal etc) to these issues are presented; particular emphasis is placed on gender gaps in economic behaviour and entrepreneurship. Cases studies regarding gender and participation in the business sector are presented. It is emphasized that gender equality constitutes a field that interacts with all scientific disciplines and cognitive domains and is inextricably bound with social reality; an interdisciplinary approach is thus essential.

On successful completion of the course students will:

•  broaden their knowledge of the main economic and sociological theories relating to gender and employment, gender relations in the labour market in the European Union and Greece and, in particularly, gender differences in management;
•  understand problems relating to gender and work according to the results of surveys and studies that have been conducted on the European and international level;
•  become aware of gender discrimination in the contemporary business environment and society as a whole;
•  acquire the skills to examine gender discrimination in the workplace and to promote equality; and
•  be able, when joining organizations, to analyse the status quo and to reorganize, improve, develop, and evaluate policy processes so that the perspective of gender equality can be incorporated into policies and at all levels of the organization.