1 Reconciling work and family lives Production and reproduction –working mothers and caring fathers : policy implications ISPA Annual Conference Friday 17 th September Evelyn Mahon, Department of Sociology TCD

2 Changes in women’s lives from the seventies The contraceptive revolution The removal of legal barriers to the participation of married women Equal opportunities in education and at work

3 the liberation and individualisation of women Average age of motherhood:32 Smaller family size (1.93) Increased rate of married women’s participation in the labour force (46%) Higher educational levels of females in labour force (37% have some third level): Now women are 41% of labour force (44% in Dublin)

4 Men’s lives Traditional male work practices expected in workplace Men expected to be breadwinner No recogonition of fatherhood Emergence of new masculinities movement

5 family lives Site of care work Domestic division of labour Intensive mothering Extended family childcare

6 Gender contract Taxation policy based on one earner policy High support for married men (wifely labour) No income for wives No allowances for childcare costs

7 Single mothers Welfare to work policies are promoted Some recognition of childcare costs A different working mother contract

8 Effects of contract Women “in the home” feel undervalued Alternative kinds of motherhood promoted based on marital status Grandparents care for children Some mothers who wish to work can’t afford to!

9 Too hot to handle? Childcare policy remains “too hot to handle” Women “at home” are pitted against women “at work” Those at home resent tax allowances for women at work Women at work resent their taxes helping other women to stay at home full-time Single mothers are seen as being facilitated in a way married mothers are not

10 Consequences are… Increasing labour costs Limit to number of mothers who can enter the labour force Low fertility rates or no children Increased reliance on immigrant labour – preferably childless Non-recognition of care work Vulnerability of women : no pensions;little identity;dependence

11 Costs of childcare In a neo-liberal economy public expenditure is curtailed Childcare costs are not paid by the state or by employers Children and their care is a private concern

12 Stud farming or children? Childcare policy can be contrasted with… tax free stud farming… tax allowances for rental income No taxes paid by cultural artists Tax allowances for sports stars Business expansion schemes

13 Taxation and childcare Ireland supportive of wifely (not motherly labour) Least supportive of employed mothers Income differences of mothers and attendant childcare costs not recognised An informal childcare industry persists

14 Options Allow for childcare expenses as a necessarily incurred expense and provide tax credits or allowances for working parents OR Provide publicly funded state sponsored childcare

15 If no changes in policy…… The employment of mothers will be classed biased –higher income earners will work, others can’t afford to work… Informal economy with no benefits will persist High dependency on welfare in old age Increased poverty and no pensions in old age for women Vulnerability of wives if divorced Reproduction costs borne entirely by parents

16 Changing workplaces Increase family friendly policies: term leave; vary length of working days for parents Focus on parenting rather than soley on mothering