Politicising parenthood in Scandinavia : gender relations in welfare states / [electronic resource]
Ellingsæter, Anne Lise,author.
Leira, Arnlaug,author.
How to respond to the needs of working parents has become a pressing social policy issue in contemporary Western Europe. This book highlights the politicising of parenthood in the Scandinavian welfare states - focusing on the relationship between parents and the state, and the ongoing renegotiations between the public and the private.  Drawing on new empirical research, leading Scandinavian academics provide an up-to-date record and critical synthesis of Nordic work-family reforms since the 1990s. A broad range of policies targeting working parents is examined including: the expansion of childcare services as a social right; parental leave; cash benefits for childcare; and working hours regulations. The book also explores policy discourses, scrutinises outcomes, and highlights the similarities and differences between Nordic countries through analyses of comparative statistical data and national case studies. Set in the context of economic restructuring and the growing influence of neo-liberal ideology, each chapter addresses concerns about the impact of policies on the gender relations of parenthood. Politicising parenthood in Scandinavia is a timely contribution to ongoing policy debates on welfare state models, parenthood and gender equality. It will be of particular interest to students and teachers of welfare studies, family policy and gender studies.
Scholarly & Professional
Cover; POLITICISING PARENTHOOD IN SCANDINAVIA - Gender relations in welfare states; Contents; List of boxes, figures and tables; Acknowledgements; List of contributors; ONE - Introduction: politicising parenthood in Scandinavia; Why consider the Scandinavian model - again?; Politicising parenthood; Gender equality - the Scandinavian way; Families, gender equality and welfare states - research and politics; The context of policy reform; Data - cases and comparisons; The contributions; Part One - Politicising parenthood -legacies and challenges
TWO - Parenthood change and policy reform in Scandinavia, 1970's-2000's THREE - Nordic fertility patterns:compatible with gender equality?; FOUR - Nordic men on parental leave: can the welfare state change gender relations?; FIVE - The public-private split rearticulated: abolishment of the Danish daddy leave; SIX - The Norwegian childcare regime and its paradoxes; SEVEN - Parental choice and the passion for equality in Finland; Part Three - Work, family and the welfare state: redefining family models; EIGHT - Woman-friendliness and economic depression: Finland and Sweden in the 1990's
NINE - Working time and caring strategies: parenthood in different welfare states TEN - Diverging paths? The dual-earner/dual-carer model in Finland and Sweden in the 1990's; ELEVEN - Lone motherhood in the Nordic countries: sole providers in dual breadwinner regimes; TWELVE - Epilogue: Scandinavian policies of parenthood - a success story?; Index
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Scholarly & Professional
Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 19 Jan 2022).
How to respond to the needs of working parents has become a pressing social policy issue in contemporary Western Europe. This book highlights the politicising of parenthood in the Scandinavian welfare states - focusing on the relationship between parents and the state, and the ongoing renegotiations between the public and the private.  Drawing on new empirical research, leading Scandinavian academics provide an up-to-date record and critical synthesis of Nordic work-family reforms since the 1990s. A broad range of policies targeting working parents is examined including: the expansion of childcare services as a social right; parental leave; cash benefits for childcare; and working hours regulations. The book also explores policy discourses, scrutinises outcomes, and highlights the similarities and differences between Nordic countries through analyses of comparative statistical data and national case studies. Set in the context of economic restructuring and the growing influence of neo-liberal ideology, each chapter addresses concerns about the impact of policies on the gender relations of parenthood. Politicising parenthood in Scandinavia is a timely contribution to ongoing policy debates on welfare state models, parenthood and gender equality. It will be of particular interest to students and teachers of welfare studies, family policy and gender studies.
Child care
Parenting.