This book engages with a critical perspective on gender equality and quality of life. It provides a comprehensive overview of theoretical and methodological frameworks used in research on gender equality and quality of life by reviewing their conceptual and analytical foundations. Further, the book offers an insight into gender equality policies and their outputs in two countries with varying histories of implementation of gender equality policies as well as a contrasting political, economic and cultural context: Poland and Norway. With contributors from sociology to history and health studies, it draws on a wide range of examples to examine gender equality as a multidimensional concept underpinning policy commitments and actions in areas such as family, labour market, health, reproductive rights or participation in political life. It asks whether gender equality has become a core, stable value embedded in national policies in Poland and Norway, or is a recent, contested and vulnerable concept.