Le strategie europee di gender mainstreaming e il ruolo dei media audiovisivi. Un’analisi comparata sulle sfide della gender e media literacy in quattro paesi europei

This article investigates the role of audiovisual media in EU gender mainstream- ing strategies, focusing on the potential of serial narratives as cultural and peda- gogical tools that connect European policies with educational practices. The study focused comparatively on four European countries (Denmark, Ireland, Italy, and Romania), by adopting a mixed-methods approach which combines desk analysis of the educational systems, focus groups with students, and semi- structured interviews with teachers. Data analysis revealed a significant hetero- geneity in the integration of gender and media literacy within school systems, a widespread lack of specific training for teachers, and a shared awareness about the potential of serial narratives to activate processes of identification, discus- sion, and critical reflection of gender-related issues. Based on these findings, a subsequent phase involved the design and piloting of an educational toolkit, based on a participatory pedagogical approach aimed at strengthening the role of young adults as conscious actors in the construction of inclusive societies, and bridging the gap between normative strategies and educational practices.