Gender mainstreaming (sometimes abbreviated as GM) is a strategy for achieving a gender-equal society that is sustainable in the long term.
In brief, it means that a GM perspective is integrated into every sphere of activity and at every stage of decision-making, planning and policy implementation.
Gender mainstreaming has been the Swedish Government’s overarching strategy for gender policy since its bill ‘Shared power, shared responsibility’ (Delad makt – delat ansvar, Govt. Bill 1993/94:147), presented by the then Minister of Gender Equality Bengt Westerberg, was passed by the Riksdag (Swedish Parliament) in spring 1994. The Bill (available in Swedish only) laid down that:
’… a gender-equality approach [must] be imposed on all policy areas. Accordingly, proposals and decisions must be analysed in terms of gender equality to clarify possible implications for both sexes. This applies particularly to educational, employment, industrial, social and economic policy, and especially to structural changes in society. Efforts to promote gender equality must be made in every policy area and measures must be taken mainly within the framework of the regular work of the bodies concerned. Nevertheless, special initiatives are also needed to drive development in the desired direction.’ (Unofficial translation.)