In the first of our blog series for the Politics of Equality at Work project, Heather Connolly explores the potential significance of 2021 legislation in France to introduce quotas to accelerate gender equality.

While quotas are a useful way to achieve gender balance in numbers, workplace cultures and systemic inequalities outside the workplace mean that women are potentially taking on higher levels of responsibility in difficult working environments without any reduction in caring or domestic loads. A broader social approach with accompanying support is required for more gender-equal societies.