The working paper briefly discuss the current situation in relation to gender equality in Poland, placing the focus on the level of importance associated with the problem viewed both from a theoretical standpoint and with regard to the actual implementation of the gender equality policy.

WP.1.1 Gender Equality and Quality of Life – How Can Gender Equality Contribute to the Development in Europe. A study of Poland and Norway. Introduction by Krystyna Slany

This working paper discusses how the concept of gender equality has been conceptualised and operationalised in social science research. The paper reviews quantitative research studies concerned with gender equality in order to reflect on diverse ways in which the concept of "gender equality" was defined and consequently measured, what dimensions of gender equality were studied, and what areas and target groups were considered. The underlining scope of the paper is to constitute the basis for the new framework of studying gender equality in the project "Gender equality and quality of life – how gender equality can contribute to development in Europe. A study of Poland and Norway" (GEQ).

WP1.2. Measurement of gender equality – analysing dimensions, embracing areas, considering contexts by Ewa Krzaklewska

This text presents the Norwegian research tradition leading to detailed multidimensional survey studies of gender equality, the model which is being used as the main part of the basis for the 2015 GEQ survey in Poland. 

WP1.3.The development of a Norwegian model of gender equality research by Øystein Gullvåg Holter

This study concentrates on three major fields listed in its title: notion of well-being, understanding of social development and striving for gender equality. Due to complexity and diversity of approaches all of them are shown in lights of different theories, which to some extent I try to reflect in this paper. Additionally, to meet the goal of "Gender equality and quality of life" project, that is a construction of a new indicator, I summarise existing indexes on well-being and gender and juxtapose them in tables. This operation enables the readers to have a clear picture of focus areas and development trends of these measures, followed by the message they send. Critical reflection on the presented models and the final discussion might help in the future work on quality of life and gender equality issues, their measurement and interpretations. 

WP1.4.Well-being and Social Development in the Context of Gender Equality by Zofia Łapniewska

Tobiasz-Adamczyk and Woźniak, in their article "Quality of life and well-being", mostly deal with subjective indicators, definitely doing so in more detail. A review of diverse approaches to the issue of measuring the quality of life (including the quality of life conditioned upon health) is provided. 

WP1.5. Quality of life and well-being by Beata Tobiasz-Adamczyk and Barbara Woźniak

The objective of this paper is to answer the question of whether the labour market in Poland is characterised by gender equality or gender inequality. The presentation of the measures used hitherto is intended to map the current situation in the workplace. 

WP1.6. Gender Equality in the labour market and in the workplace. A case of Poland by Ewa Lisowska

The Polish transformation was – and still is – a local version of Structural Adjustment Programmes (introduced by the World Bank and Monetary Fund) with all consequences known all over the world. The cutbacks in expenditure on health services and education hit woman with double power. They not only lost jobs in the most feminised segments of the labour market, but also a variety of the state's tasks and responsibilities in care, health, and education were moved into the private sphere. (...) Women are now responsible for care for the elderly and disabled or sick members of the family. In this context, a question arises as to the gender consequences of neoliberal reforms. The new system without doubt resulted in new opportunities for educated and wealthy women, but on the other hand it caused huge inequalities among women from different classes and social groups. 

WP1.7. Who won Polish transformation? Gender dimensions of reforms in Poland by Beata Kowalska, Marta Warat and Aleksandra Migalska

The article discusses those gender equality issues which relate to working life, civil society, and sexual harassment – these areas should all be seen as significantly impacting the direction that the survey research preparations in the GEQ project are taking. These dimensions are discussed in the light of the experiences collected during the period of the Norwegian "mother-project" – GEQL 2007. 

WP1.8. Critical assessment of the Norwegian study Gender Equality and Quality of Life (GEQ 2007) by Trine Rogg Korsvik