About Giulia Giraudo
Ms. Giulia Giraudo is a a Ph.D. student in Transnational Governance at Scuola Normale Superiore, in Italy. She has a multidisciplinary background in political science and history, having graduated from a double degree programme of LUISS University and ULB, as well as from the Leiden University.
Prior to embarking on her doctoral journey, Giulia gained practical experience in various roles, including positions at the European Commission, the Italian Permanent Representation to the EU, and within the private sector.
Ms. Giulia Giraudo stayed at the IEE-ULB as a visiting researcher between February and April 2024 and her research stay was supervised by Professor Amandine Crespy. We recently had the pleasure to hear her presentation at the IDEAS24 conference, organised at the IEE-ULB in the framework of the EUqualis Center of Excellence.
Her research at the IEE-ULB
Ms. Giulia Giraudo’s research focuses on exploring the gendered aspects of post-pandemic recovery plans in Italy and Spain, specifically investigating how the design of care policies in response to the pandemic has influenced gender equality. Existing feminist literature has extensively examined the connection between care work and gender parity. Even before the pandemic, the unequal distribution of care responsibilities between women and men had been identified as one of the key hurdles to promoting a more gender equal society. In the light of that, many looked with concern at the implications for gender equality of the disruption of public care services brought about by COVID-19. For example, the closure of childcare facilities placed additional caregiving burdens on women, leading many to reduce their working hours or exit the workforce due to societal norms.
Simultaneously, European welfare states responded to the pandemic’s economic freeze with actions of previously unheard-of volume, rapidity, and scope. While these interventions showcased a significant mobilization of resources, questions arose regarding their long-term social impact and their ability to bring about substantial change within European welfare systems. Therefore, there is a need to closely examine the formulation and implementation of recovery plans, particularly concerning their effects on work-family reconciliation policies and long-term care provisions.
In light of these considerations, Giulia’s research aims to shed light on the integration of discussions on work-family reconciliation policies and long-term care within the European recovery process.
During her research visit at the IEE-ULB, under the guidance of Amandine Crespy, Giulia Giraudo collected data for the initial phase of her research, focusing on analysing the negotiations surrounding the NextGenerationEU plan at the European level. She was particularly interested in understanding how gender equality considerations were addressed within this context and identifying the key actors and policy coalitions involved in shaping these discussions.
According to Guilia, this visiting stay at the IEE-ULB offered an opportunity for meaningful interactions and valuable feedback with the IEE research community, enriching the progress of her research and contributing to broader discussions on pandemic recovery and gender equality. Through this endeavour, she continues to deepen our understanding of the intricate dynamics between policy frameworks, societal norms, and gender dynamics, with the ultimate goal of fostering more inclusive governance paradigms.
How to become a visiting researcher at the IEE-ULB
The IEE-ULB regularly welcomes visiting researchers whose work focuses on its main lines of research.
Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications which must contain: an up-to-date CV, a research project highlighting the link to one or several of the IEE’s four research themes, the proposed research period, and the name of the IEE-affiliated professor who has agreed to act as the researcher’s supervisor.
Applications should be send to Prof. François Foret, Dominique Dembour, and Dr. Marta Matrakova.
Decisions on visiting research applications are taken by the Council of the IEE, which gathers five times per year. For the 2023-2024 academic year, the last date is August 20, 2024.
Contact
For any questions about a visiting research stay at the IEE-ULB, please contact our Research Logistic Coordinator, Dr. Marta Matrakova.
