RECONSTRUCTING GENDER EQUALITY IN FAMILY LAW: A NORMATIVE AND COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF EUROPEAN FAMILY LAW SYSTEMS IN RELIGIOUS CONTEXTS

Kobko-Odarii V. Leheza Y. Sokolovskiy K. Tatarenko H. Nestertsova-Sobakar O.
6 July 2025 State Islamic University Antasari

Syariah: Jurnal Hukum dan Pemikiran
2025 #25 Issue 1 195 - 214 pp.

This study examines the normative and doctrinal foundations of gender equality in European family law and investigates how Christian and Islamic religious heritage continues to shape contemporary legal interpretations and outcomes. Using a multi-method design combining normative legal analysis, cross-jurisdictional comparison, and qualitative assessment of statutory frameworks, case law, and scholarly literature, the study evaluates legal mechanisms regulating gender relations through the lenses of critical gender theory, intersectional analysis, and religious ethics. The findings reveal marked divergences in matrimonial property regimes, valuation of care work, and principles governing divorce. Despite widespread recognition of formal equality, substantive inequalities remain embedded due to the undervaluation of domestic labor, tensions between autonomy and compensation principles, and the persistence of cultural “cryptotypes” rooted in religious and historical traditions. The analysis demonstrates that Christian and Islamic heritages exert dual influences: they reinforce patriarchal norms while simultaneously offering internal interpretive pathways for gender-progressive reform. The results underscore that, although European family law systems show increasing convergence toward human rights standards, doctrinal inconsistencies and implicit judicial biases continue to limit equitable outcomes. The study proposes a reconstructed model of family law incorporating gender-sensitive jurisprudence, equitable valuation of non-financial contributions, stronger regulation of religious adjudicatory bodies, and gender-responsive judicial training. This research contributes conceptual clarity and policy-relevant insights into how family law can be restructured to advance substantive gender equality within Europe’s diverse socio-legal contexts.

domestic violence , European Convention , gender equality , protection of family rights

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Odessa State University of Internal Affairs, Ukraine
Dnipro University of Technology, Dnipro, Ukraine
Humanitarian and Technical Academy, Kazakhstan
Department of Public and Private Law, Volodymyr Dahl East Ukrainian National University, Ukraine
Dnipro State University of Internal Affairs, Dnipro, Ukraine

Odessa State University of Internal Affairs
Dnipro University of Technology
Humanitarian and Technical Academy
Department of Public and Private Law
Dnipro State University of Internal Affairs

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