Gendered perspectives in EU multilingual policy. A study on Italian and English directives

The EU has promoted gender-neutral language at all levels since its origins. However, the adherence to this language policy in the different mirror versions of EU law is a thorny issue. In fact, EU multilingual law-making is the result of structurally diverse languages undergoing a draftingtranslating- revision process that challenges some core tenets of Translation Studies, such as source vs. target text. This study investigates the integration of gender-neutral language policy into EU Directives in Italian and in English. Diachronic and comparative perspectives examine how EU gender neutrality has impacted the drafting of Directives over the time, and the differences and similarities in addressing this language policy. It is argued that existing asymmetries are due partly to the distinct morphological nature of the English and the Italian languages, partly to the complex political and ideological negotiations underlying the drafting of each Directive. Notwithstanding the diplomatic constraints, this study highlights that Directives related to gender equality are a privileged site to illustrate the close relationship between the EU hybrid drafting process and its underlying political tensions.