From Gender Antagonism to Inclusive Solidarity? Trade Union Membership and Attitudes Toward Women's Employment

ABSTRACT Why and to what extent do union members differ from non‐members in attitudes toward women's employment? This study argues that a masculinized conception of work has historically underpinned gender antagonism in trade unionism, and that the rise of right‐wing populism may have hindered recent progress toward gender equality among union members. Analyzing the European Values Study data, I find that union members hold more egalitarian attitudes toward women's employment than non‐members on average. This relationship further varies across individual and institutional characteristics. After the financial crisis, however, the positive association has weakened particularly in countries where right‐wing populism is influential.