Gender Equality and Welfare Politics in Scandinavia : The Limits of Political Ambition?

Gender equality is often seen as a hallmark of the Nordic countries. This book explores this notion by examining the meanings of gender that underpin policies in the Scandinavian welfare states, historically and today. The book focuses on three Scandinavian countries - Denmark, Norway and Sweden - and explores the policy reforms that have occurred relating to family and care. Beginning with the radical marriage reform carried through in all the three countries in the early decades of the 20th century, the book progresses to explore contemporary challenges to the traditional model of equality, including equal rights for fathers, multiculturalism and a critical young generation. The book focuses on differences as well as similarities between the countries and discusses the relevance of talking about a Nordic model. Stressing the importance of viewing the concept of equality in its historical context, the book critically investigates and discusses the Scandinavian 'success story' portrayed in normative political theory and presents an historical analysis of the development of gendered citizenship rights. It will be a valuable collection for researchers, lecturers and graduate students who work with historical and contemporary studies on welfare state and gender models from different disciplinary or interdisciplinary perspectives. Gender equality and welfare politics in Scandinavia Contents List of tables Preface Notes on contributors A Nordic model of gender equality? Introduction The challenges of today A Nordic model? A dual breadwinner model? New perspectives on parenthood Women’s economic citizenship – a key issue A generational uproar? Ethnicity – diversity and Nordic gender-equality models Politics, science and everyday life The concept of gender equality in a historical context 1. Woman-friendly policy paradoxes? Childcare policies and gender equality visions in Scandinavia Introduction Equality versus difference – a contextual and socially constructed dilemma The solution to Wollstonecraft’s dilemma: visions for shared caregiving and breadwinning Gender equality and Scandinavian welfare states Woman-friendly welfare states or modernised patriarchies? Understanding difference Gender visions of Scandinavian care policies Maternity and parental leave Day-care services Homecarer allowance Post-industrial policy paradoxes Perspectives on the Scandinavian policy paradoxes 2. The claim of economic citizenship:the concept of equality in a historical context Equality now and then Male breadwinner model or dual breadwinner model? Different meanings of gender equality ‘Economic citizenship’ – for the few Women’s economic independence – subject to women’s agency Parenthood and the discourse of equality Concluding remarks 3. Married women’s right to pay taxes: debates on gender, economic citizenship and tax law reform in Denmark, 1945–83 Gendered tax legislation in Denmark, 1903–83 Debates on gender, economic citizenship and tax legislation Conclusion 4. Family policy between science and politics Introduction The governmental commission reports in the Swedish political landscape: some methodological reflections The growth of Swedish family politics ‘A brand new family’: the emergence of modern family politics, 1930–40 Ambivalent family ideals: family policy 1940–60 Ideological adaptation and the emergence of a gender-neutral family policy, 1960–70 Concluding remarks 5. Academic discourse, social policy and the construction of new families Introduction Family politics and the struggle over needs Engineering the gender-neutral family Gendering family discourse Changing conceptions of fatherhood Concluding remarks 6. The ‘new father’: gender equality as discursive resource for family policies Introduction From presumption for the mother to equal rights with equal responsibilities Both parents are allocated rights to access/parental responsibility for their children Representation–producing work Discursive effects Are the representations of ‘mother’ changing? Equality as a power resource before and now 7. From powerful to powerless fathers:gender equality in Danish family policies on parenthood Introduction Changing laws on parenthood Changing concepts of fatherhood and motherhood Ending the hegemony of the institution of marriage Rights and obligations – responsibilities to provide and to care Gender, class and equality Changing realities? Conclusions – a ‘universal-caregiver model’? 8. Dilemmas of citizenship: tensions between gender equality and cultural diversity in the Danish welfare state The multicultural challenge to gender equality Nordic approaches to welfare, citizenship and gender Migration, integration and gender – Danish exceptionalism? Reflections on the intersection of gender and ethnicity from the Nordic contexts 9. Women friendly? Understanding gendered racism in Sweden Introduction Theoretical starting points A women-friendly welfare state? Methodological contentions: the construction of a community Ethnocentric policies/migration narratives Migrant women at ‘risk’ Unpacking gendered racialised responses to the welfare state Motherwork: resisting victimisation Reflections 10. Young women’s attitudes towards feminism and gender equality Introduction Approach, concepts and empirical data Attitudes towards feminism and feminist movements Experiences and attitudes towards gender equality The right to family focus Rethinking the public–private split? Conclusion 11. A Scandinavian feminist public sphere:discourses on feminism and gender equality Introduction Feminist voices in the Scandinavian new feminist debate 1999–2004 Three discourses on feminism and gender equality Discussion Conclusion Postscript: Gender, citizenship and social justice in the Nordic welfare states:a view from the outside The ‘half-full’ analysis The ‘half-empty’ analysis Postscript 2: Future research on gender equality inthe Scandinavian countries Heterogeneity and homogeneity Research and policy: a two-way relationship Conceptualising power: intersectionality and processes of mutual constitution Gender, class, age and ethnicity Broadening comparative welfare analysis Which form of gender equality are we talking about? Difference as a barrier to the achievement of equality? Difference as a barrier, or as a pathway, to equality? An uncertain future Appendix Index Gender Equality Is Often Seen As A Hallmark Of The Nordic Countries. This Book Explores This Notion By Examining The Meanings Of Gender That Underpin Policies In The Scandinavian Welfare States, Historically And Today. This Will Be A Valuable Collection For Researchers, Lecturers And Graduate Students Who Work With Historical And Contemporary Studies On Welfare State And Gender Models From Different Disciplinary Or Interdisciplinary Perspectives.--book Jacket. A Nordic Model Of Gender Equality? : Introduction / Kari Melby, Anna-birte Ravn, And Christina Carlsson Wetterberg -- Woman-friendly Policy Paradoxes? : Childcare Policies And Gender Equality Visions In Scandinavia / Anette Borchorst -- The Claim Of Economic Citizenship : The Concept Of Equality In A Historical Context / Christina Carlsson Wetterberg And Kari Melby -- Married Women's Right To Pay Taxes : Debates On Gender, Economic Citizenship, And Tax Law Reform In Denmark, 1945-83 / Anna-birte Ravn -- Family Policy Between Science And Politics / Åsa Lundqvist -- Academic Discourse, Social Policy, And The Construction Of New Families / Christine Roman -- The 'new Father' : Gender Equality As Discursive Resource For Family Policies / Trine Annfelt -- From Powerful To Powerless Fathers : Gender Equality In Danish Family Policies On Parenthood / Charlotte Andersen And Anna-birte Ravn -- Dilemmas On Citizenship : Tensions Between Gender Equality And Cultural Diversity In The Danish Welfare State / Birte Siim -- Women Friendly? : Understanding Gendered Racism In Sweden / Diana Mulinari -- Young Women's Attitudes Towards Feminism And Gender Equality / Ann-dorte Christensen -- A Scandinavian Feminist Public Sphere : Discourses On Feminism And Gender Equality / Christina Fiig -- Gender, Citizenship, And Social Justice In The Nordic Welfare States : A View From The Outside / Ruth Lister -- Future Research On Gender Equality In The Scandinavian Countries / Keith Pringle. Edited By Kari Melby, Anna Birte-ravn And Christina Carlsson Wetterberg. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Gender equality is often seen as a hallmark of the Nordic countries. This book explores this notion by examining the meanings of gender that underpin policies in the Scandinavian welfare states, historically and today. The book focuses on three Scandinavian countries - Denmark, Norway and Sweden - and explores the policy reforms that have occurred relating to family and care. Beginning with the radical marriage reform carried through in all the three countries in the early decades of the 20th century, the book progresses to explore contemporary challenges to the traditional model of equality, including equal rights for fathers, multiculturalism and a critical young generation. The book focuses on differences as well as similarities between the countries and discusses the relevance of talking about a Nordic model. Stressing the importance of viewing the concept of equality in its historical context, the book critically investigates and discusses the Scandinavian 'success story' portrayed in normative political theory and presents an historical analysis of the development of gendered citizenship rights. It will be a valuable collection for researchers, lecturers and graduate students who work with historical and contemporary studies on welfare state and gender models from different disciplinary or interdisciplinary perspectives"--Provided by publisher This book examines the meanings of gender that underpin policies in the Scandinavian welfare states, historically and today, and raises the question whether the hallmark of the Scandinavian welfare model is a special combination of gender equality and gender differentiation This original and innovative book opens up new perspectives in health policy debate, examining the emerging international trends in the governance of health professions and the significance of national contexts for the changing health workforce. Bogen undersøger hvilken betydning køn har for politikken i Danmark, Norge og Sverige historisk som i dag. Bl.a. belyses debatten om kvinders skattebetaling i Danmark 1903-1983 og forældremyndighed