No C 131/34 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 12. 6. 76 
Opinion  on the  economic  and  social  situation  of the  woman  in the  European 
Community 
The opinion  of the Committee  is not based  on any  text. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
At its 125th  plenary  session  held  on 28 November  1974  the Committee,  acting  on 
a proposal  from  the Bureau,  decided  to deliver  an opinion  on the abovementioned 
subject  on its own  initiative. 
B. OPINION  OF  THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  prepared  its opinion  on the above  matter  at 
its 137th  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 25 and  26 February  1976. 
The full  text  of the opinion  is as follows: 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the  decision  of the  Economic 
and Social  Committee  at its plenary  session  of 28 
November  1974,  following  a proposal  from  its 
Bureau  on 29 October  1974,  to deliver  on its 
own initiative  an opinion  on the  economic  and 
social  situation  of the  woman  in the  European 
Community, 
Having  regard  to the  decision  taken  by  the 
Bureau  on  29  October  1974,  instructing  the 
Section  for  Social  Questions  to draw  up  an 
opinion  on the matter, 
Having  regard  to the  opinion  delivered  by the 
Economic  and  Social  Committee  on the commu-
nication  of the  Commission  to the Council  con-
cerning  equality  of treatment  of men  and  women 
as regards  access  to employment,  vocational 
training,  promotion  and  working  conditions,  at 
its 133rd  plenary  session  ('), held  on 24 and  25 
September  1975, 
Having  regard  to the  opinion  issued  by  the 
Section  for Social  Questions  at its 102nd  meeting, 
held on 12 February  1976,  and  the written  report 
made  by the rapporteur,  Mrs  Evans, 
(•) OJ No C 286,  15. 12. 1975,  p. 8. Having  regard  to the  discussions  at its 137th 
plenary  session  held  on 25 and  26 February  1976 
(meeting  of 26 February), 
Whereas  there  is a need  to recognize  that  if there 
is to be a really  democratic  European  union  the 
130 million  women  in the European  Community 
must  be fully  integrated  and  accepted  members  of 
society  with  the same  rights  and  opportunities  as 
their  male  counterparts, 
Whereas  there  is a need  to step  up elimination  of 
deeply-rooted  prejudices  in European  society,  and 
the discriminatory  practices  in which  they  result, 
Whereas  the right  of women  to genuine  equality 
of opportunity  and  increased  participation  in all 
areas  of human  activity  and  expression  has gener-
ated pressures  for social  change, 
Whereas  women  must  be placed  in a position 
where  they  can  freely  choose  between  gainful 
employment  and  work  in the  home,  or can 
combine  the two  if they  wish,  and  where  they  can 
fully  exercise  their  economic,  social  and  political 
responsibilities, 
Whereas  women  are especially  subject  to constant 
strain  when  — whether  out  of necessity  or by 
choice  — they  combine  housework  and  looking 
after  a family  with  employment  or activities  in 
the social  or political  spheres, 
12. 6. 76 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 131/35 
Whereas  progress  towards  greater  personal  fulfil-
ment,  particularly  in the  case  of women,  must 
begin  in the  family,  the married  couple,  because 
this is still  the basic  social  unit  in Europe, 
Whereas  it is not  always  possible  to differentiate 
between  women's  and  men's  problems,  and 
whereas  changes  in the  situation  of  women 
involve  changes  in the situation  of men  as well, 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
by 43 votes  to 10 with  39 abstentions: 
1. Introduction 
1.1. The  main  purpose  of  International 
Women's  Year  was  to change  people's  thinking 
about  women's  rights,  so that  the  equality  of 
rights  and  obligations  will  be taken  for  granted. 
To do  this,  obsolete  ideas  about  the  different 
roles  of the  two  sexes  must  be eliminated  and  a 
change  of mentality  brought  about.  This  will  not 
happen  by  itself.  The  process  must  be set  in 
motion  and  assisted  by concrete  suggestions  as to 
improvement  and  changes.  For  example, 
improvements  must  be made  to existing  laws  and 
regulations,  new  progressive  legislation  must  be 
brought  in,  and  measures  are  needed  to ensure 
that women  can  actually  exercise  their  rights,  and 
to provide  help  for  women  with  families  (women 
still do the  bulk  of the  work  involved  in looking 
after  a family)  so  as  to favour  the  greatest 
fulfilment  and  maximum  equilibrium  of  the 
couple  and  their  children  within  the  family  unit 
and using  the family  unit  as a basis. 
1.2. The  importance  of these  aims  could  be 
illustrated  by the  most  recent  statistics  available. 
Unfortunately,  since  such  up-to-date  Community 
statistical  studies  and  surveys  within  the  various 
job categories  and  age  groups  are  not  available, 
the Committee  has  not  been  able  to accomplish 
its optimum  work. 
1.3. This  opinion  will,  nevertheless,  examine 
women's  problems  in their  role  within  the various 
aspects  of  life  in the  Community  —  legal, economic,  social,  family,  political,  cultural  — but 
because  of the  sheer  size  of the  task  and  the  lack 
of background  statistics,  this  opinion  will  confine 
itself  to  the  major  problems  which 
prevent  women  realizing  their  full  potential  as 
individuals  and  citizens.  In addition,  the  opinion 
will suggest  some  solutions,  although  for  the 
above  reasons  these  cannot  claim  to resolve  all 
the problems. 
2. General  comments 
2.1. Psychological  aspects 
2.1.1.  Men  and  women  find  themselves  in a 
situation  in which  the  traditional  view  of their 
roles  is being  challenged.  Generally  speaking, 
families  are  smaller  nowadays,  and  women  in 
particular  realize  that  changes  are  occurring  in 
their  family  role.  Single,  divorced  and  widowed 
women  must  also  face  a change  in their  attitude 
towards  a career  and  in their  status  as members 
of society. 
These  changes  are  creating  more  and  more  a 
feeling  of insecurity  among  men  and  women,  the 
latter  of which  are  particularly  affected.  The 
reason  for  this  is that  the  trend  for  women  to 
combine  home  duties  and  other  employment 
(paid  or unpaid)  has  already  progressed  a long 
way,  whereas  men  are  only  slowly  beginning  to 
take  a share  of duties  in the  home  alongside  their 
jobs. 
Thus  women  feel  a special  dilemma:  if they 
decide  to stay  at home,  they  are  plagued  by the 
idea that  their  other  abilities  are  being  wasted.  If 
they  engage  in other  activities,  they  are  often 
unfairly  criticized  for  allegedly  neglecting  their 
families. 
2.1.2.  All  women  have  to  contend  with 
problems  whose  root  cause  lies  in the  tra-
ditional  ideas  about  the  roles  of the  two  sexes. 
The way  women  see  these  problems  varies 
according  to their  situation.  For  example,  work-
ing wives  attach  key  importance  to a different  set 
of problems  than  do full-time  housewives.  Also, 
many  working  and  non-working  women  are  both 
mothers  and  housewives.  These  family  responsi-
bilities  of women  have  been  almost  completely 
No C 131/36 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 12. 6. 76 
ignored  in the European  Economic  Community's 
action.  Also  these  Community  regulations  and 
measures  relate  only  in a limited  way  to women's 
employment. 
2.1.3.  The  inadequate  facilities  of society,  tra-
dition,  and  also  many  laws  add  to women's 
feeling  of insecurity.  In certain  countries,  the law 
is lagging  behind  developments.  The  proper  place 
for women  is traditionally  regarded  as exclusively 
in the home.  Social  services  which  can  take  over 
certain  family  duties  either  do not  exist  or (with 
very rare  exceptions)  fail  to take  women's  needs, 
particularly  those  of  working  women,  into 
account. 
2.1.4.  The  media  has  an enormous  influence 
on public  opinion.  Certain  media  outlets  in 
Europe  propagate  a concept  of women  as sex 
symbols.  They  also  have  a tendency  to reinforce 
traditional  female  roles. 
2.1.5.  Public  opinion  and  the law  do not  give 
women's  goals  of independence  and  equality  of 
opportunity  the support  that  is needed  if women 
are to be able  to exercise  these  rights  fully  and as 
a matter  of course. 
2.2. Equality  before  the law 
2.2.1.  Law  and  its interpretation  should  be 
used  as a lever  to influence  and change  social  and 
political  attitudes  of the state  and  the citizen. 
2.2.2.  National  legal  systems  still  contain 
instances  of discrimination  against  women,  in 
spite  of the  fact  that  the  constitutions  of most 
Member  States  declare  men  and  women  to be 
equal.  Discrimination  against  women  can  be 
found  especially  in the law  relating  to the family, 
since  in most  Member  States  this  is still  more  or 
less based  on the traditional  conceptions  of men's 
and women's  roles. take a job,  the  business  they  are  allowed  to 
transact  is restricted  to housekeeping  matters, 
and they  need  their  husband's  permission  to open 
a bank  account.  Furthermore,  in some  parts  of 
the Community,  married  women  are not allowed 
to become  members  of agricultural  cooperatives 
and discriminations  still  exist  as to jury  service 
and financial  compensation  for  such.  In almost 
all Member  States,  legitimate  children  automati-
cally  receive  the  father's  name,  nationality  and 
domicile.  In many  Member  States  parental  auth-
ority  is still  vested  exclusively  in the father.  In one 
Member  State  maltreatment  of the spouse  is not a 
punishable  offence. 
2.2.4.  Another  example  is the fact  that  in most 
Member  States  full-time  housewives  have  no legal 
right  to an adequate  share  of their  husband's  pay 
packet  for housekeeping  and  their  own  personal 
needs.  The  principle  of contribution  of wage 
earners  or of those  who  receive  an income 
(whether  men  or women)  towards  housekeeping 
expenses  should  be enshrined  in the law  in all the 
Member  States.  The  legal  possibility  to obtain  an 
adequate  share  of the  partner's  income  towards 
personal  needs  should  be respected  in each  Mem-
ber State. 
2.2.5.  In  some  Member  States  one-parent 
families  have  legal  difficulties  in obtaining  finan-
cial assistance.  Recommendations  have  been 
made  in regard  to a new  kind  of non-contribu-
tory benefit  called  'guaranteed  maintenance 
allowance',  the  idea  of which  the  Section  en-
dorses  as well.  In the  judicial  determination  of 
these  issues,  all legal  discriminations  should  be 
removed. 
2.2.6.  Further  de facto  discrimination  against 
women  occurs  over  pay.  In most  Member  States 
women  now  have  the legal  right  to equal  pay  for 
work  of equal  value,  but  this  right  is far from 
universally  honoured,  and  proper  provision  has 
not always  been  made  for women  to get the right 
enforced  ('). 
2.2.7.  In  some  Member  States,  particular  bene-
fits can only  be paid  to the 'breadwinner'.  As the 
2.2.3.  Here  are  a few  common  examples  of 
discrimination  in the law.  In some  Member  States 
wives  often  need  their  husband's  permission  to (') OJ No C 88, 26. 7. 1974,  p. 7. 
12. 6. 76 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 131/37 
husband  is regarded  as the breadwinner  in most 
Member  States,  such  a provision  also  discrimi-
nates  against  women. 
2.2.8.  In  several  Member  States  there  are age 
limits  for  taking  up  certain  occupations. 
Although  these  rules  apply  to men  and  women 
alike,  they  may  discriminate  against  women  who 
want  to take  up such  occupations  after  raising  a 
family.  Job  advertisements  should  be worded  in 
sexually  neutral  terms  as provided  for under  the 
new British  Act;  at present,  some  advertisements 
are addressed  to male  applicants  only. 
2.2.9.  Various  laws  purport  to protect  work-
ing women  from  particular  dangers  in employ-
ment.  It is fair  to ask  whether  some  of them  are 
not, in fact,  discriminatory  and  serve  to restrict 
access  to the  jobs  in question.  Where  there  is a 
genuine  danger,  protection  should  be mandatory 
for both  men  and  women. 
2.2.10.  Women  helping  on  the  manual  or 
administrative  side  to run  family-type  businesses 
and contributing  thereby  to the earnings  of those 
businesses  play  an important  role  in the economy. 
Such  women  want  their  existence  recognized  in 
all the relevant  bodies  both  within  the trade  and 
outside  it, and  they  want  their  status  as partners 
in the businesses  asserted.  They  therefore  demand 
to be  accorded  the  same  treatment  as their 
husbands  in social  security  matters,  particularly 
pensions,  both  State  and  occupational. 
2.2.11.  It  is worth  noting  that  generally  speak-
ing, electoral  systems  are  not  discriminatory 
against  women.  However,  the fact  that  very  few 
women  stand  for  election  and  even  fewer  get 
elected  means  that  men  form  the overwhelming 
majority  on most  legislative  bodies. 
Women,  who  make  up 51%  of the  population, 
are thus  clearly  under-represented  in parliaments 
and public  bodies  elected  to represent  the whole 
of the population. 
2.3. Economic  aspects 
2.3.1.  The  main  feature  of the economic  situa-
tion of married  women  is a greater  or lesser degree  of dependence  on the husband,  his income 
and his decisions. 
This  dependence  is less  in the case  of working 
wives  earning  a wage  or having  their  own  income 
which  they  can  dispose  of more  freely  after 
having  contributed  their  share  to the  family 
budget. 
2.3.2.  Single  women  have  to support  them-
selves,  but  because  women  mostly  do low-paid 
and low-prestige  jobs  they  often  have  less  finan-
cial security.  Furthermore,  because  few  qualifica-
tions  are necessary  for these  jobs,  they  have  less 
opportunity  for career  advancement. 
2.3.3.  This  general  situation  results  in women 
(especially  the  single,  divorced  or  widowed 
woman)  having  on the  average  less  financial 
security  than  men. 
2.3.4.  One-parent  families  have  additional 
financial  problems.  Financial  maintenance  is in 
these  cases  particularly  necessary  if a family  has a 
sole 'breadwinner'  and  that  breadwinner  leaves  it 
without  sufficient  means  of support.  The  Com-
mittee  endorses  that  there  should  be proper 
financial  provisions  for one-parent  families. 
2.3.5.  The  Committee  asks  that  where  early 
retirement  is provided  it should  be a possibility 
(left to one's  choice)  and  not  a requirement. 
Again,  in some  Member  States  different  standard 
rates  are  calculated  and  applied  for  insurance 
periods  for  which  no contributions  have  been 
paid,  so that  women  receive  lower  pensions  as a 
result. 
In practice  the fact  that  housewives'  pensions  are 
mainly  dependent  on their  husband's  means  that 
the size  of the  pension  is exclusively  determined 
by the  husband's  job  and  social  status;  the 
woman's  work  in the family  is completely  disre-
garded. 
2.3.6.  Because  women's  life  expectancy  is 
higher,  more  women  than  men  reach  an age, 
where  in general  they  are dependent  on pensions. 
No C 131/38 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 12. 6. 76 
Widows  who  have  never  taken  up paid  employ-
ment  receive  in most  cases  only  part  of their 
husband's  pension,  and  these  widows'  pensions 
are often  so low  that  the State  has to step  in with 
supplementary  benefits.  This  problem  does  not 
arise  for wives  who  go out to work  since  they  are 
entitled  to pensions  in their  own  right. 
For women  who  are  wholly  dependent  on what 
they earn  themselves,  i.e. all single  women  and 
many  divorced  women,  the poor  financial  secur-
ity during  their  working  life  continues  into  old 
age: because  they  did low-paid  work  and  had  few 
opportunities  for advancement,  their  pensions  are 
also low. 
2.3.7.  In  some  Member  States,  a husband's 
pension  can  be passed  on not  only  to his widow 
and children,  but also  to other  relatives,  whereas 
a woman's  pension  can  only  be passed  on to her 
children,  even  though  the pension  contributions 
are the same  in both  cases. 
2.3.8.  The  situation  with  pensions  is also  true 
of other  State-provided  forms  of security,  since  in 
most  cases  benefits  are  geared  to previous 
earnings,  and  for  numerous  reasons  women's 
earnings  are usually  lower  than  men's. 
2.3.9.  As  women  thus  generally  have  less 
financial  security  than  men,  more  women  than 
men have  to rely  on State  benefits.  In some 
Member  States,  the level  of even  these  benefits 
differs  according  to sex,  instead  of being  geared 
exclusively  to the  recipient's  income.  In some 
Member  States,  for example,  women  only  receive 
60%  of the  benefits  accorded  to men  in these 
circumstances. 
2.3.10.  The  financial  situation  of women  who 
do not  work  because  they  have  sick  or old 
dependants  to look  after  is extremely  precarious 
where  they  do not  have  security  through  the 
husband.  Although  these  women  save  the  State 
considerable  sums  of money  by doing  this  work, 
which  is traditionally  regarded  as women's  rather 
than  men's  responsibility,  society  does  very  little 
in recognition  of such  work.  The  measure  just brought  in Germany  whereby  the  State  pays 
national  insurance  contributions  for  women  (or 
men)  doing  this  work  is a tentative  first  step. 
2.3.11.  The  tax law  in each  country  is natural-
ly also  an important  factor  in women's  economic 
situation.  Indisputably,  many  Member  States' 
taxation  systems  deter  wives  from  going  out  to 
work  or discourage  them  from  taking  part  in 
family  business. 
Such  provisions  have  enormous  financial  implica-
tions  for couples  and  greatly  influence  the wife's 
decision  whether  or not to seek  financial  security 
by taking  a job and  can  often  do little  to protect 
the institution  of marriage. 
2.3.12.  In  the preliminary  report  to the social 
action  programme,  the Commission  stressed  the 
deterioration  in compensation  for family  respon-
sibilities  in most  Member  States.  This  trend 
undoubtedly  influences  the choice  which  mothers 
are obliged  to make,  irrespective  of their  personal 
preference,  in favour  of paid  employment  in 
order  to provide  their  family  with  a minimum 
living  standard.  Attention  must,  therefore,  be 
paid to: (i) the level  of family  allowances  for the 
maintenance  of children;  (ii)  compensation  for 
women  who  look  after  their  children  full  time; 
and (iii)  assistance  for  working  mothers,  whose 
outside  job  prevents  them  from  looking  after 
their  children  on a full-time  basis. 
2.4. Social  and  cultural  aspects 
2.4.1.  The  way  in which  people  think  is largely 
decided  in the formative  early  years.  As long  as 
children  are  expected  to play  different  roles 
because  of their  sexes,  obsolete  ideas  about  their 
respective  roles  will  be hard  to break  down. 
Our education  systems  reinforce  the stereotyped 
ideas  about  the  role  of the  sexes.  There  are few 
co-educational  schools.  Female  teachers  are 
grossly  under-represented  at all  the  different 
levels.  Boys  and  girls  often  have  different  sylla-
buses  and  textbooks,  and  these  sometimes  rep-
resent  men  and  women  in a way  which  reflect 
12. 6. 76 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 131/39 
outdated  conceptions  and  do nothing  to promote 
true partnership.  An extreme  example  is the case 
of statutory  requirements  making  domestic 
science  a compulsory  subject  for girls  only. 
2.4.2.  Vocational  guidance  generally  reflects 
obsolete  ideas  and  to a large  extent  girls  are not 
sufficiently  informed  about  careers  which  are not 
typical  'female'  careers.  It is true,  of course,  that 
employers  are still  not  very  willing  to train  girls 
for some  jobs,  so that  where  girls  are encouraged 
to take  up unconventional  careers,  they  often  find 
they cannot  do so in practice. 
Career  planning,  which  should  begin  at the 
vocational  guidance  stage,  rarely  occurs  (in the 
case of women  it is very  exceptional  indeed),  so 
that no encouragement  comes  from  this  quarter 
at the moment. 
2.4.3.  In  some  Member  States  sex and  marital 
status  are  taken  into  consideration  in awarding 
grants  for further  education,  and  this  often  results 
in girls  being  discriminated  against.  The  same 
applies  where  there  are quotas  on the number  of 
male  and  female  students  admitted  to university. 
2.4.4.  Since  girls  are  not  given  enough  infor-
mation  and  encouragement  to acquire  a skill  or 
qualification  and  plan  a career,  they  come  to 
accept  the idea  of having  less  training  than  boys 
or none  at all.  In this  way  many  do not  even 
reach  the  lowest  level  of the  promotion  ladder. 
Many  women  do not qualify  for training  courses 
which  open  up promotion  prospects  because  they 
lack the basic  requirements.  Where  women  have 
obtained  the  qualifications  required  for  promo-
tion,  their  career  is not  infrequently  endangered 
by the  reluctance  of employers  to promote 
women. 
2.4.5.  Women  who  want  to return  to work 
after  a long  interruption  or who  have  never 
previously  entered  the  employment  market  face 
other  problems  because  by then  they  may  have 
forgotten  the skills  they  acquired  or these  have 
become  obsolete  as a result  of technical  progress. 
It is necessary  that  more  facilities  for retraining  as 
well as crash  courses  are developed  in the various 
sectors  of employment. 
2.4.6.  Society  largely  pays  little  attention  to 
these  problems  because  the basic  picture  it has of women  is still  first  and  foremost  that  of the 
full-time  mother  of a family  with  many  children. 
This  image  prevails  in spite  of the fact  that  in all 
the Member  States  the  number  of children  per 
family  is decreasing.  If the  family  remains  rela-
tively  small,  the full-time  mother  has  possibilities 
of taking  up other  activities  at an earlier  stage. 
2.4.7.  But  no matter  whether  it is the wife,  the 
husband  or both  who  look  after  the  family, 
having  children  always  involves  certain  obliga-
tions.  Children's  nurses  or replacement  mothers 
or fathers  are rarely  available.  There  are still  not 
enough  creches  and  day  nurseries.  Where  such 
facilities  exist,  they  often  take  no account  of the 
fathers'  or mothers'  working  hours. 
2.4.8.  People  working  in family-type  busi-
nesses  are  calling  for a specially  designed  relief 
service  so that  they  can  take  time  off to attend 
training  courses,  go on holiday,  etc.  Through-
out the  European  Community,  it is difficult  for 
persons  working  in family-type  businesses  to 
find proper  replacements.  This  is a general 
problem  but  one  that  has  particular  relevance  to 
women. 
2.4.9.  The  provisions  governing  maternity 
leave  and  allowances  in the  Community  are 
extremely  varied,  especially  as regards  the people 
covered  and  the form  of the benefits  granted. 
2.4.10.  As  a general  rule,  the  situation  of 
handicapped  women  is particularly  difficult.  Only 
if they  were  gainfully  employed  are they  likely  to 
receive  a disability  allowance  which  might  enable 
them  to employ  a home  help. 
The Committee  points  out  that  the largest  num-
ber of accidents  occur  in the home  and  for few  of 
these  are there  any  financial  provisions  and  other 
assistance. 
Full-time  housewives  receive  no compensation  if 
they become  totally  or partially  disabled.  They 
are unable  to fulfil  many  of their  household 
duties  and  become  a burden  to their  relatives  or 
to the family  budget.  Only  very  limited  rehabilita-
tion measures  and  aids  are available  for disabled 
housewives  and  they  are  not  provided  with 
mechanical  aids  which  would  enable  them  to do 
their  housework. 
No C 131/40 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 12. 6. 76 
2.5. Women  in public  life 
2.5.1.  In  the  chapter  on 'Equality  before  the 
law' reference  was  made  to the fact  that  women 
are completely  under-represented  in the  various 
legislative  bodies.  The  figures  for female  represen-
tatives  in the  legislatures  of the  nine  Member 
States  are as follows: 
Percentage  of women  MPs  in the Parliaments  of 
EEC countries 
Danish  Folketing  16-8%, 
Dutch  Parliament  8-7%, 
German  Bundestag  6-6%, 
Luxembourg  Chamber  of Deputies  4-3%, 
British  House  of Commons  4-1%, 
Italian  Chamber  of Deputies  3*0%, 
Belgian  House  of Representatives  2*8%, 
Irish  Parliament  2*0%, 
French  National  Assembly  1-6%, 
(Source:  'Women  in Europe',  published  by the  Euro-
pean  Communities  DG  Press  and  Information,  1975). 
Women  are  also  the  minority  in the  European 
Parliament.  Women  hold  only  nine  of the Parlia-
ment's  198  seats  (two  Italians,  two  English,  two 
German  and  one  each  from  France,  Denmark  and 
Luxembourg). 
Within  the Economic  and  Social  Committee,  the 
number  of women  is also  very  low  — 11 out of a 
total  of 144  members  representing  the  various 
economic  and  social  interests  of the nine  member 
countries. 
Women  at the  European  Community  Commis-
sion headquarters  number  2500  in total;  44%  of 
all personnel.  Yet,  there  are no women  among  the 
13 commissioners  and  only  one  woman  holds  the 
rank  of 'director',  as compared  with  112  men. 
Women  account  for  6-2%  of the  top  decision-
making  jobs. 
There  are  few  women  in the executive  bodies  of 
large  organizations  and  institutions.  They  are also 
under-represented  in political  parties  and  trade 
unions  and  where  there  is some  representation 
they are  rarely  part  of the  executive  body. 
Women  are  even  under-represented  in bodies 
whose  members  are appointed. 2.5.2.  Women  are  often  accused  of shirking 
their  responsibilities  in this  sphere.  It is widely 
admitted  however,  that  — for many  reasons  — 
they have  much  less  opportunity  of a career  in 
such  fields  than  men. 
2.5.3.  It  is objectively  true  that  the  combina-
tion of job  and  family  duties  weigh  more  heavily 
on women  than  on men,  so that  they  can  hardly 
do anything  additional,  except  at the expense  of 
enormous  effort.  Furthermore,  the way  in which 
the major  institutions  work  is exclusively  geared 
to the  men's  situation  in society;  this  is an 
additional  hindrance  to a female  contribution. 
3. Specific  proposed  recommendations 
3.1. Abolishing  all existing  legal  discrimina-
tions  in the near  future  — such  as: 
— discrimination  within  the  matrimonial  and 
parental  laws; 
— the  need  for guaranteed  rights  in choosing  a 
profession  (without  having  to seek  permission 
from  the marriage  partner); 
— realization  of the 'principle  of contribution'  of 
wage  earners  towards  a housekeeping  budget 
and towards  personal  needs,  and  its real  and 
rapid  application; 
— equality  of rights  when  entering  into  commer-
cial agreements; 
— legal  possibility  for  obtaining  police  protec-
tion when  one  partner  physically  assaults  the 
other. 
3.2. Effective  enforcement  of the  rights  and 
principles  to which  the  European  Community 
countries  have  subscribed  by  signing  various 
charters  and  conventions  (for  example:  United 
Nations  Declaration  on the Elimination  of Discri-
mination  against  Women,  International  Labour 
Office  Conventions,  European  Social  Charter, 
etc.). 
3.3. Development  of pilot  projects  or schemes 
on European  Community  level  whereby  in one 
area of business  or political  policy-making  tem-
12. 6. 76 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 131/41 
porary  measures  in the area  of 'positive  discrimi-
nation'  are tested. 
3.4. Encouragement  of co-educational  schools. 
3.5. Encouragement  of thorough  revision  of 
school  curricula  and  text  books,  which  should 
result  in the abolition  of separate  text  books  for 
boys  and  girls. 
3.6. Adaption  of all educational  and  vocatio-
nal quotas  which  are  actually  discriminating 
between  men  and  women. 
3.7. Equal  access  to educational  financial 
assistance,  irrespective  of sex and  marital  status. 
3.8. Improvement  of vocational  guidance  for 
women  and  improvement  of training  facilities,  as 
well as equal  opportunities  for  day-release  and 
sandwich  courses. 
3.9. Reinforcement  of civic,  social,  domestic 
and family  life  training  at all educational  levels 
for boys  and  girls. 
3.10.  Free  and  legal  right  of access  to family 
planning  information  and  establishment  of advi-
sory centres  where  these  do not exist  already. 
3.11.  Statutory  rights  for employed  women  to 
be accorded  paid  legal  maternity  leave  where 
there  is none,  and  the right  of job-re-engagement. 
3.12.  Introduction  of flexible  working  hours  if 
the organization  of the work  allows  it. 
3.13.  Increase  of 'home-help  facilities'  during 
and after  pregnancy  and  when  dependents  are ill. 
3.14.  Increase  of child-care  facilities  especially 
in agricultural  and  isolated  regions  within  the 
European  Community. 
3.15.  Assistance  in the extension  of child-care 
facilities  through  application  of the  European 
Social  Fund. 3.16.  Need  for registration  and  supervision  of 
'child-minders'  (excluding  family  members). 
3.17.  Introduction  of a 'break  for training'  on 
a wider  scale  for women  who  re-enter  full-time 
employment  (the  burden  to be carried  by society). 
3.18.  Creation  of 'relief  services'  which  would 
permit  women  working  in family-type  businesses 
to benefit  from  training  and  leisure  time  activi-
ties. 
3.19.  Provision  of emergency  hostels  and  faci-
lities  for  'battered  wives'  and  development  of 
legal  aid and  social  services. 
3.20.  Replace  the  terms  'not  gainfully 
employed'  (used  in official  reports  and  statistics 
to describe  the work  of a full-time  housewife)  by 
'no economic  assessment  made'. 
3.21.  Study,  with  a view  to reaching  a satisfac-
tory solution  at European  and  UN  level,  the 
problem  of including  'housework'  in the  gross 
national  product. 
3.22.  Study  the  possibility  of  developing 
'accident  and  other  insurance  schemes'  for 
housewives. 
3.23.  Study  the  possibility  of developing  a 
'housewive's  wage',  sickness  insurance  and  gua-
ranteed  pensions  for women  who  work  at home 
looking  after  small  children  or elderly  or sick 
dependents. 
3.24.  Study  the possibility  of developing  'ade-
quate  maintenance  schemes'  for one-parent  fami-
lies. 
3.25.  Realization  of equality  in the fiscal  and 
social  security  field  (problems  of cumulative  tax, 
transferability  of pension  rights). 
3.26.  Up-to-date  and  exact  statistical  studies 
and surveys  should  be consistently  carried  out by 
the European  Community  Statistical  Office,  as 
No C 131/42 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 12. 6. 76 
well as by the  European  Foundation  for  the 
Improvement  of Living  and  Working  Conditions 
as to the  various  job  categories,  vocational  and 
occupational  trends,  age  groups.  The  Committee 
would  like  to note  that  serious  studies  and  action 
research  should  be carried  out  without  delay  in 
the Community  through  the  European  Founda-
tion for the Improvement  of Living  and  Working 
Conditions  into  the  conditions  which  have 
brought  forth  discriminations  against  women. 
For further  reference,  the Committee  calls  atten-
tion to the  opinion  on the  communication  from 
the Commission  to the Council  on the creation  of 
a European  Foundation  for  the  Improvement  of 
Living  and  Working  Conditions  ('). The  Commit-
tee notes  that  it is important  to include  full-time 
housewives  in these  surveys. 
3.27.  Studies  should  be  carried  out  at the 
European  Community  and  national  level  as to: 
(a) the  role  which  could  be played  by multi-pur-
pose  neighbourhood  centres.  These  neigh-
bourhood  centres  would  cater  for  all age 
groups  and  would  provide  many  opportuni-
ty OJ  No  C 109,  19.  9. 1974,  p. 37. 
Done  at Brussels,  26 February  1976. ties for  continuing  educational  and  cultural 
and social  activities,  both  for  the  young  and 
old; in this  way  the isolation  of the individual 
in urban  as well  as rural  areas  could  be 
overcome  and  a new  sense  of community 
spirit  could  develop  through  the interaction  of 
interests; 
(b) quality  of present  child-care  arrangements 
and future  options  available  for  working 
mothers; 
(c) role  and  effect  of media  and  advertising; 
patterns  of consumption;  influence  of media 
on sex  discrimination;  role  of women  as 
consumers; 
(d) the possibility  of a benefit  being  paid  to 
mothers  remaining  at home.  This  should  take 
account  of the  age  and  number  of her  chil-
dren,  and  be coupled  with  proper  rights  to, 
for instance,  sickness  insurance  cover.  Also 
periods  spent  bringing  up  children  should 
count  towards  retirement  pensions; 
(e) available  facilities  for female  prisoners  (pro-
grammes  of rehabilitation  for  women  who 
have  served  prison  sentences;  discernible 
trends  in criminality  among  women  and  men). 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Henri  CANONGE 
ANNEX 
to the opinion  of the Economic  and Social  Committee 
The following  amendments  were  rejected  during  the  discussions: 
Item 3.10 
Amend  to read: 
'Member  States  should  be encouraged,  bearing  in mind  their  situation  in this  respect, 
either  to make  family  planning  information  and  services  more  easily  available  where  they 
already  exist,  or to consider  alternatives  where  family  planning  information  and  services 
do not  yet  exist.' 
12. 6. 76 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 131/43 
Reason 
This  moderate  compromise  proposal  allows  the  individual  member  governments  greater 
room  for manoeuvre  in dealing  with  the delicate  matter  of family  planning,  according  to 
their  individual  situation  in this  respect. 
Voting 
For: 7, against:  37, abstentions:  57. 
Item  3.11 
Amend  to read: 
'Statutory  rights  for employed  women  to be accorded  paid  legal  maternity  leave  where 
such  rights  do not exist.  This  leave  should  be everywhere  long  enough  for the well-being 
of both  mother  and  child.  There  should  also  be the right  of job re-engagement.' 
Reason 
Maternity  leave  in the mere  sense  of the weeks  immediately  prior  to or following  pregnancy 
is manifestly  inadequate  in most  cases  in the light  of the  physiological  and  psychological 
interests  of both  mother  and  child. 
Voting 
For: 24, against:  24, abstentions:  28. 
After  item  3.27  insert  a new  item  3.28: 
'3.28.  The  foregoing  opinion  suggests  many  of the  inequalities  in the  situation  of 
women  in the  Community  and  makes  specific  proposals  for  laws  to redress  these 
inequalities.  But  this  is a subject  in which  the law  can  have  very  good  intentions  which  it 
finds  extremely  difficult  to carry  out  in full.  And  unless  the law  is enforced,  it is worse 
than  useless. 
We, therefore,  recommend  that  a body  (analogous  to the Equal  Opportunities  Commis-
sion in the United  Kingdom)  should  be set up to ensure,  as far as that  is possible,  that  the 
various  laws  against  these  inequalities  in the Community  and  in the different  countries, 
shall  be properly  enforced.  Considering  the difficult  financial  situation  of the Community, 
we further  recommend  that  this  body  need  not  necessarily  be a separate  organization, 
requiring  extra  money  and  extra  skill,  but that  it could  perhaps  come  within  the powers 
of the  European  Foundation  for  the Improvement  of Living  and  Working  Conditions 
which  already  exists  and  within  whose  framework  such  a function  might  fit most 
logically.' 
Reason 
The aspirations  expressed  on behalf  of women  in this  opinion  will  not be carried  out unless 
there  are organizations  in the countries  of the Community  whose  job it is to see that  the 
aspirations  are  carried  out.  And  in the  Community  there  must  be one  Community 
organization  to see that  the national  organizations  carry  out their  job.  I have  proposed  that 
this Community  organization  might  be established  within  the Foundation  for Living  and 
Working  Conditions. 
Voting 
For: 18, against:  28, abstentions:  30. 
No C 131/44 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 12. 6. 76 
As a result  of the  adoption  of amendments,  the  following  paragraphs  in the  section's 
opinion  were  altered: 
Item  1.1,  last sentence 
'For example,  improvements  must  be made  to existing  laws  and  regulations,  new 
progressive  legislation  must  be brought  in, and measures  are needed  to ensure  that  women 
can actually  exercise  their  rights,  and  to provide  help  for women  with  families  (women 
still do the bulk  of the work  involved  in looking  after  a family).' 
Voting 
For: 50, against:  4, abstentions:  19. 
Item  1.3,  third  line 
'This  opinion  will,  nevertheless,  examine  women's  problems  in their  role  within  the 
various  aspects  of life  in the Community  — legal,  economic,  social,  political,  cultural  — 
but because  of the sheer  size  of the task  and  the lack  of background  statistics,  this opinion 
will confine  itself  to the  major  problems  which  prevent  women  realizing  their  full 
potential  as individuals  and citizens.' 
Voting 
For: 44, against:  12, abstentions:  25. 
Item  2.2.11 
'It is noteworthy  in this  connection  that  legislative  bodies  are mostly  made  up of men  and 
controlled  by men.  It should  be noted  that  in the voting  process  there  exist  no legal 
discriminations.  Parliaments  and  public  bodies  are representative  of the entire  population, 
but women,  51%  of the  population,  rarely  stand  for  elections  or are  successful 
candidates.' 
Voting 
For: 58, against:  1, abstentions:  12. 
Item  3.20 
'Abolition  of the term  "not  gainfully  employed"  used  in official  reports  and  statistics  in 
regard  to description  of "full-time  housewife".' 
Voting 
For: 32, against:  15, abstentions:  29. 
Item  3.27,  subparagraph  (d) 
'feasibility  of a "homemaker's  salary".' 
Voting 
For: 42, against:  7, abstentions:  32.