1. Comparative gender inequality
Week 20
Comparative Sociology

2. 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

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

4. 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

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

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

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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 (

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

11. 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

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

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

14. 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

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

16. 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

17. 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

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

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

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

21. Comparative support Sweden UK
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

22. 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

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