Køn og kærlighed i 3F - nye perspektiver på ligestilling i fagbevægelsen

Love and Gender in 3F – new perspectives on gender equality in the labour movement In the article I argue for the necessity of (also) conceptualizing gender as produced, reproduced and transformed through love. This love is neither romantic nor physical, but a metaphor for meanings and practices which contribute to the making of gender equality in the Danish trade union 3F. From Rösing’s re-reading of de Beauvoir I develop the concept of ‘exchange’ as a way to create room for a multiplicity of gender and other experiences. Acknowledging that gender inequality is embedded in the organization, democracy, leadership, and ideology of the labour movement I add the idea of participation policies building on Fraser’s theory of justice. This perspective reveals how important the exchange both as the actual ‘positive dialogue’ between individuals and as participation policies has been for the making of gender equality in the five 3F branches. And furthermore, that the absence of exchange and a narrow understanding of gender equality do not lead to parity in participation but to the reproduction of gender stereotypes.