Enhancing Gender Equality in the Disability Care Sector

2026-07-22

Care is a deeply gendered issue, pervasive in both formal and informal settings, posing complex challenges. The EQUAL-CARE project addresses the urgent issue of the gender care gap within the disability care and support sector, encompassing both formal and informal caregiving. Through a gender-transformative approach, EQUAL-CARE targets the underlying causes of the gender care gap and promotes equal opportunities, fair working conditions, and improved work-life balance for formal and informal carers alike. Specifically, in the formal care sector, we will develop tailored and innovative tools, training and awareness-raising initiatives which will inform and empower workers, managers, employers, and HR professionals, fostering gender equality, challenging stereotypes, facilitating women's advancement into leadership roles, and encouraging greater male participation in the sector. In the realm of informal care, EQUAL-CARE will analyze existing gender dynamics to develop strategies for equitable caregiving arrangements. This involves raising awareness and advocating for gender-sensitive caregiving practices to challenge stereotypes, recognizing the value of informal care work, and engaging men in caregiving roles. Furthermore, EQUAL-CARE will formulate policy recommendations to guide future decisions and practices, targeting policymakers, employers, and stakeholders to advance gender equality and inclusivity in the care sector.

Belgium, Italy, Spain, Lithuania, Greece, Slovenia, Finland, Austria

2026-01-15