Universität zu Köln

Dillmann, Ruben and Müller, Katrin Charlotte (2023). A Short Note on Intersectionality and EU Law – The Concept, its Prospects and Potential Pitfalls. In: LegislEUlab der Europäischen Rechtslinguistik 2022 (EU-Rechtsetzungslabor "LegislEUlab". Dossier), pp. 345-355. Köln: Verein zur Förderung der Europäischen Rechtslinguistik an der Universität zu Köln.

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Abstract

This paper explores the notion of intersectionality in EU law, focusing on its inclusion in the new Equal Pay Directive (2023/970). This Directive is the first EU legislation explicitly defining intersectional discrimination as based on a combination of sex and other protected grounds under Directives 2000/43/EC or 2000/78/EC. We examine the legislative process leading to the inclusion of intersectionality in the Directive, highlighting the positions of the European Commission, Parliament, and Council. While the Commission's proposal already referred to intersectional discrimination, the Parliament advocated for a significantly increased use of the concept. The final version of the Directive represents a compromise between the position that an intersectional approach is an obvious necessity and the concern that it may be an unclear device of progressivist theory. We then argue that the legislative process would have benefited from clearer and more detailed reasoning for the inclusion of intersectionality, particularly given the term's complex academic background. Originating in critical legal studies and feminist legal theory, intersectionality has been employed in various ways across different disciplines. The paper highlights the need for legal practitioners to be (somewhat) familiar with this history to effectively apply the concept in practice. More transparent and detailed justifications for including intersectionality would have facilitated its transition from an academic context to one of legal applicability. In this context, we emphasize the importance of careful analysis of the terms used to name protected groups and the context of intersectional discrimination. Finally, we offer some reflections on the relationship between law and reality, mediated by language. The inclusion of intersectionality in legal language can be understood as an attempt to find a new balance between representation and creation of reality. Effectively combating all kinds of discrimination requires a mindful, reflected approach that heeds the spectre of essentialism. Such an approach would also have to consider the inherent tension between categorization and individuation. While inclusive language alone will not solve discrimination, the demand for more accurate terminology in the law is a rational one. Ultimately, we consider the inclusion of an intersectional approach in the Equal Pay Directive a step forward in the right direction. But as with all new developments in the law, only a careful and terminologically informed approach – taking into account the term’s academic background and the social realities it relates to – can do the term justice.

Item Type:	Book Section, Proceedings Item or annotation in a legal commentary
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Dillmann, Ruben r.dillmann@uni-koeln.de UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Müller, Katrin Charlotte katrin.mueller@leuphana.de UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
Editors:	Editors Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Burr, Isolde burr@uni-koeln.de UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Dillmann, Ruben r.dillmann@uni-koeln.de UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Heinemann, Ellen eheinema@uni-koeln.de UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Mattissen, Johanna johanna.mattissen@uni-koeln.de orcid.org/0000-0002-8328-5472 UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-734431
Title of Book:	LegislEUlab der Europäischen Rechtslinguistik 2022 (EU-Rechtsetzungslabor "LegislEUlab". Dossier)
Series Name at the University of Cologne:	Kölner Publikationsreihe Europäische Rechtslinguistik
Volume:	3
Page Range:	pp. 345-355
Number of Pages:	356
Date:	December 2023
Publisher:	Verein zur Förderung der Europäischen Rechtslinguistik an der Universität zu Köln
Place of Publication:	Köln
ISSN:	2748-5765
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Divisions:	Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Fächergruppe 5: Moderne Sprachen und Kulturen > Romanisches Seminar > Professur für Europäische Rechtslinguistik
Subjects:	Law Language, Linguistics
Funders:	Kölner Gymnasial- und Stiftungsfonds
Projects:	Cologne Summer School der Europäischen Rechtslinguistik 4, 2022
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/73443