The importance of the issue of gender equality the progress made but also the obstacles to achieving it is now widely perceived in society. Currently the principle of equality between men and women is barely questioned in Spain, and a majority believe that despite the progress made, inequalities are still considerable. Moreover a large majority of Spaniards believe that, in the family, the two spouses should be able to work and divide housework equally, and do not believe that childcare should be solely or particularly a task for women.There have been many legislative initiatives in the last few years, naturally in line with the prevailing views on the subject in Spain. In particular the Equality Act (Organic Law 3/2007 for effective equality between women and men), originally a transposition of a Company directive, goes much further and marks a milestone in the legislative implementation of the right to equality between men and women. The Law boosts gender mainstreaming so as to promote equality in all spheres of State activity, and provides a general framework for the adoption of positive actions affecting not only the State but also individuals and companies.In parallel, one of the main changes in the social scene has undoubtedly been the rise in the educational standard of young people in Spain and especially that of women, now well above the EU average. In some ways, education, which conditions our future in society and work, gives women advantages: fewer girls leave school prematurely, more of them complete second-stage secondary education and more women have university qualifications than men. These data show that women forming families and starting paid work now and in the future are and will continue to be very different from previous generations those which set out on the road to equality.Another indicator of change, and that with most socioeconomic and political implications, is the proportion of women on the labour market, which has continued to increase. The still low overall participation rate relative to the European average masks the much more significant fact that the presence of the younger generations in the labour market is similar to, and in some cases greater than, that in the most advanced Member States, though this presence is not on equal terms with men.The work-life balance should be understood as the need for society to generate conditions in which babies continue to be born and the elderly continue to be looked after as we are enriched by the participation of men and women in the world of work, without requiring women to make extra sacrifices. Education, work life and their relationship with family and personal life, and support from public policy through legislative measures, are the key aspects addressed, along with other dimensions of womens socio-occupational situation in Spain, by this report aimed at adding the Councils view to the analysis of this reality so as to help establish a road map for the coming years.
