Comparative gender inequality Week 20 Comparative Sociology

Recap Health and welfare policies are related to forms of capitalism and national culture Growing demand on healthcare due to the ageing population in the west Considered the different ways of thinking about lone motherhood

Outline Design of health and welfare systems often perpetuates gender inequality Gender inequality and child poverty Women as unpaid health workers

Deserving and Undeserving Poor From start of welfare this division has been important. This division is also often gendered Under Poor Law –Widows –outdoor relief –Unmarried mothers - workhouse

Unfair welfare? In the UK, the Beveridge model of welfare assumed that men would be breadwinners and women would be housewives.

Gendered welfare state Married women paid reduced National Insurance Women’s right to certain benefits came through her husband’s national insurance contributions Family Allowancepaid direct to women

Gendered welfare states In the US, most recipients of insurance based benefits are men (contributions though work) Most recipients of means-tested programmes are women Means-tested benefits are stigmatised

Temporary Assistance Needy Families (TANF) Monthly welfare program for poor families with children under age 18. There is a 5 year lifetime limit on cash assistance (shorter some states). Paternity should be established Strong required to participate in a work activity.

Temporary Assistance Needy Families (TANF) Only about 50% of families poor enough to qualify receive TANF 12.9 million US children live below the poverty line (2003) 9 million have no health insurance (

Gendered welfare Discuss with your neighbour, if you feel this policy will have a different impact on men and women

Family poverty Shift to work-based programmes means that childcare has become a major issue Childcare costs are a major barrier to women’s employment Childcare may not be available when women are working

Service economy Many jobs for women are in the service economy –Shift-work –Evening work –Weekend work

Impact of Child Poverty Child poverty leads to: –Inadequate education –Higher chances of law breaking –Reduced life expectancy –Increased morbidity

Hard choices Paid employment can lift people out of poverty. Inadequate childcare can have a detrimental affect on children Exemptions for mothers perpetuate gender stereotypes

Hard Choices What policies would you put in place to support children and eliminate child inequality?

Surestart programme Surestart centres are based in areas of deprivation Offer support to improve health and emotional development for young children Offer quality childcare but work not compulsory

Ageing population An ageing population need investment in caring resources. –Hospital care –Care homes –Care by unpaid carers In UK, 80% of care is from unpaid carers

Carers Majority of care is provided by women –Women as workers in the care industry Low paid, low status work –Women caring at home

UK About 20% of people in their fifties are providing unpaid care Women are more likelythan men do to personal care Men more likely to do household chores

Gender inequality Do you think the state or relatives should be responsible for supporting older people?

Comparative support Sweden –Home care is embedded in national health service –Funding for home care is high 11.2% receive support –8.7% in institutions UK –Nursing care is supported but other support variable –Funding for home care is low 5.5% receive support –5.1% in institutions

Summary Health and welfare provision is gendered in its design and delivery Childcare and care for the elderly are two areas that have major implications for gender inequality

Next week Comparative citizenship Consider position of migrants Who can be a citizen?