Who Cares?: Women's Work, Childcare, and Welfare State Redesign (Studies in Comparative Political Economy and Public Policy)

By focusing on childcare and systematically comparing national experiences in Belgium, France, Italy, Sweden, and the European Union, Who Cares? provides detailed information on recent social policies and a clear perspective on welfare state redesign. Many countries have now designed childcare policies to reconcile family and work. Some encourage parents to provide their own childcare by granting parental leave; others encourage parents to stay at work by supporting childcare services. Using the case of childcare policy, the contributors to this volume examine how public policy choices over the last three decades have been fashioned by specific understandings of the gendered division of labour. The authors of the country studies analyse specific childcare strategies and place them within the larger context of state approaches to women's roles. They argue that an examination of the direction and the form of social spending, in this period when such spending is under attack, contributes to our understanding of new principles of citizenship as they have been developed and articulated by governments. Who Cares? highlights the connection between childcare and employment, and makes a significant contribution to the literature on citizenship and women's work. By Focusing On Childcare And Systematically Comparing National Experiences In Belgium, France, Italy, Sweden, And The European Union, Who Cares? Provides Detailed Information On Recent Social Policies And A Clear Perspective On Welfare State Redesign. Many Countries Have Now Designed Childcare Policies To Reconcile Family And Work. Some Encourage Parents To Provide Their Own Childcare By Granting Parental Leave; Others Encourage Parents To Stay At Work By Supporting Childcare Services. Using The Case Of Childcare Policy, The Contributors To This Volume Examine How Public Policy Choices Over The Last Three Decades Have Been Fashioned By Specific Understandings Of The Gendered Division Of Labour.--jacket. The Care Dimension In Welfare State Redesign / Jane Jenson And Mariette Sineau -- New Contexts, New Policies / Jane Jenson And Mariette Sineau -- Belgium : The Vices And Virtues Of Pragmatism / Bérengère Marques-pereira And Olivier Paye -- France : Reconciling Republican Equality With 'freedom Of Choice' / Jane Jenson And Mariette Sineau -- Italy : Policy Without Participation / Franca Bimbi And Vincent Della Sala -- Sweden : Models In Crisis / Anne-marie Daune-richard And Rianne Mahon -- Europe : An Actor Without A Role / George Ross -- Comparing Childcare Programs: Commonalities Amid Variety / Jane Jenson And Mariette Sineau -- Citizenship In The Era Of Welfare State Redesign / Jane Jenson And Mariette Sineau. Jane Jenson And Mariette Sineau ; With Franca Bimbi ... [et Al.]. Includes Bibliographical References: P. [267]-289. "By focusing on childcare and systematically comparing national experiences in Belgium, France, Italy, Sweden, and the European Union, Who Cares? provides detailed information on recent social policies and a clear perspective on welfare state redesign. Many countries have now designed childcare policies to reconcile family and work. Some encourage parents to provide their own childcare by granting parental leave; others encourage parents to stay at work by supporting childcare services. Using the case of childcare policy, the contributors to this volume examine how public policy choices over the last three decades have been fashioned by specific understandings of the gendered division of labour."--Résumé de l'éditeur "By focusing on childcare and systematically comparing national experiences in Belgium, France, Italy, Sweden, and the European Union, Who Cares? provides detailed information on recent social policies and a clear perspective on welfare state redesign. Many countries have now designed childcare policies to reconcile family and work. Some encourage parents to provide their own childcare by granting parental leave; others encourage parents to stay at work by supporting childcare services. Using the case of childcare policy, the contributors to this volume examine how public policy choices over the last three decades have been fashioned by specific understandings of the gendered division of labour."--BOOK JACKET.