General description

Short introduction into gender theories, feminist critiques of welfare state theories, (de)commodification, (de)familialization, care work, employment, gender mainstreaming and EU policy

Learning outcomes

The course’s aim is to enable the students to critically reflect the interrelationship of welfare state and gender. Focusing on contemporary development in the gender and welfare state theories, the structural influence on women’s and men’s individual choices is discussed concerning employment and family.

Students will be equipped with the skills necessary for advanced research and understanding relation between gender and social policy:
• Concept of gender
• Welfare State and Gender
• Employment and Gender
• Family and Gender
• EU-policies and gender mainstreaming

Contents

The concept of gender is in transition. The course focuses on recent developments in Social Policy and the changes that occur on individual and social level. First of all, the students develop a common understanding of the concept of gender and the contemporary debate.

Secondly, early feminist critique is discussed regarding the patriarchal state and social policy. Earlier research saw states either contributing to the social reproduction of gender inequality or diminishing gender hierarchy. Contemporary research focuses on the diverse influence of social policy on gender issues.

Thirdly, the organization and structure of employment and care work are main issues for gendered social political analyses. Different theories are discussed explaining variations between and within women and men.

Finally, the focus shifts to the European Union. European Union policy has an effect on the national policy on gender equality and vice versa. The Commission develops certain targets, which the member states have to achieve. In addition, gender mainstreaming as a tool to obtain equality is scrutinized regarding its implementation as transformative, sameness or difference model in European and national policies.

Teaching methods

Introduction during Intensive Program in Linz, afterwards audio and video lectures, discussion boards and individual tutoring, supported by Moodle.
Attendance obligatory.

Teaching language

English

Evaluation and evaluation criteria

Numeric 1-5.
Participation of the students in the discussions and debates, preparation of a research seminar paper (5 pages) in one of the areas covered in the course and a written examination at the end of the course.

Study materials

Reading list:

 

- Daly, Mary & Rake, Katherine: Gender and the Welfare State, Care, Work and Welfare in Europe and the USA. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2003.

- Sainsbury, Diane: Gender and Welfare State Regimes. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999.

- Social Politics. International Studies in Gender, State and Society (Issue on Gender Mainstreaming). Journal, Vol 12 (2005), No 3.

- Lorber, Judith: Paradoxes of Gender. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1995.

- Walby, Sylvia: The European Union and Gender Equality: Emergent Varieties of Gender Regime. Social Politics. International Studies in Gender, State and Society, Vol 11 (2004), No 1, 4-29.

- Hartmann, Heidi: Capitalism, Patriarchy and Job Segregation by Sex. Signs, Vol 1 (1976), No 3, 137-169.

- Fraser, Nancy: After the Family Wage. Political Theory, Vol 22 (1994), No 4, 591-618.

- Hochschild, Arlie Russell: The Second Shift. Penguin, New York, London et al., 2003 (1989).

- Pateman, Carole: The Patriarchal Welfare State, Reprint in: Pierson & Castles (eds.) The Welfare State Reader. Polity: Cambridge, 2006 (1989).

- McIntosh, Mary: Feminism and Social Policy, Reprint in: Pierson & Castles (eds.) The Welfare State Reader. Polity: Cambridge, 2006 (1989).

- Daly, Mary: Changing Conceptions of Family and Gender Relations in European Welfare States and the Third Way, in: Lewis & Surender: Welfare State Change – Towards a Third Way? Oxford, 2004.

- Ehrenreich, Barbara & Hochschild, Arlie Russell: Global Women. Nannies, Maids and Sex Workers in the New Economy. Granta Books, London, 2003.

- Becker-Schmidt (ed.): Gender and Work in Transition, Globalization in Western, Middle and Eastern Europe. Leske Budrich, Opladen, 2002.

- West, Candace & Zimmerman, Don: Doing Gender. Gender & Society, Vol 1 (1987), No 4, 125-151.

Belongs to following study modules