PUPn4457 Gender and labour market in different European contexts

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2024
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 12 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Blanka Plasová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Lucie Novotná, M.A. (lecturer)
Mgr. Mariia Svyrydova (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Blanka Plasová, Ph.D.
Department of Social Policy and Social Work – Faculty of Social Studies
Supplier department: Department of Social Policy and Social Work – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Fri 8:00–9:40 U53
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 19 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 11/19, only registered: 1/19
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 9 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The course aims to provide the students with a basic understanding of the impact that gender roles and inequalities have on the situation of men and women in society, mostly in the labour market. We tackle the theories about discrimination and segregation of women in the labour market and theories related to the division of labour in the household. Policies for reconciling work and family are introduced as well as flexible forms of employment in the context of the new trends in society. In relation to these trends, we focus on analysing the potential of social policies to shape and influence gender relations. Space is also given to the feminist critique of the traditional typologies of the welfare state. Furthermore, the role of employers and other actors in reconciling work and family is discussed. Beside the macro-societal perspective, we also give space to the micro-societal/individual level of the analysis, where we focus on the preferences towards work-family strategies and their links to the macro-level.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this course, students become aware of the diverse forms of gender order in society and the consequences of gender differences in the field of social policy. Students become familiar with the public policies as well as with the policies of employers in the area of reconciling work and personal life both in the Czech Republic and in the EU context.
Syllabus
  • Introduction to the course aims and objectives.
  • Gender, gender culture and gender role in the context of the labour market.
  • Gender Equality and Freedom in the Policy Context
  • Structural context: new trends in the European labour markets.
  • Gender segregation in the labour market.
  • Institutional context within the EU- introduction to work-family policy
  • Childcare policy.
  • Maternity, paternity and parental leave.
  • Family-friendly flexibility. Employers and work-family balance.
  • Guest lectures
  • Students presentations
Literature
    required literature
  • • Davis, A. E.; Kalleberg, A. L. 2006. Family-Friendly Organisations? Work and Family Programs in the 1990s. Work and Occupations, 33 (2): 191 – 216.
  • • Correl, S. J.; Benard, S.; Paik, I. (2007). Getting a Job: Is There a Motherhood Penalty? American Journal of Sociology, 112(5), pp. 1297-1338.
  • • Korpi, W., Ferrarini, T., Englund, S. 2013. „Womens opportunities under different Fanily policy Constelatioins: Gender, Class, and Inequality Tradeoffs in Western Contries Re-examined. Social Politics, 20 (1), s. 1-40.
  • • Ryan K. M.; Haslam S. A.; Hersby M. D.; Kulich C.; Atkins C. 2007. Opting out or Pushed off the Edge? The Glass Cliff and the Preacariousness of Women´s Leadership Positions. Social and Personality Psychology Compass. Vol.1/1, s. 266 – 279.
  • • Saraceno, C.; Keck, W. (2011). Towards an Integrated Approach for the Analysis of Gender Equity in Policies Supporting Paid Work and Care Responsibilities. Demographic Research. Vol. 25, art. 11, pp. 371-406.
  • • Blackburn, R. M.; Browne, J.; Brooks, B.; Jarman, J. 2002. Explaining gender segregation. British Journal of Sociology, Vol. 53, no. 4, s. 513-536.
  • • Hobson, B. 2011. The Agency Gap in Work–Life Balance: Applying Sen's Capabilities Framework within European Contexts. Social Politics 18(2): 147-167.
  • • Kroeger, T. 2011. Defamilisation, dedomestication and care policy: Comparing childcare service provisions of welfare states. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy. Vol. 31 No. 7/8, s. 424-440.
  • • Mahon, R. 2002. Child Care: Toward What Kind of „Social Europe? Social Politics 9(3): 343-379.
  • • den Dulk, L., Peters, P., Poustma, E., Ligthart, P.E.M. 2010. The Extended Business Case for childcare and leave arrangements in Western and Eastern Europe. Baltic Journal of Management 5(2): 156-184.
  • • Bambra, C. (2007). Defamilisation and welfare state regimes: a cluster analysis, International Journal of Social Welfare, 16: 326–338.
  • Lewis, J. 2006. Work/family reconciliation, equal opportunities and social policies: the interpretation of policy trajectories at the EU level and the meaning of gender equality. Journal of European Public Policy 13(3): 420-437.
  • • Cerami, A. 2008. New Social Risks in Central and Eastern Europe: The Need for a New Empowering Politics of the Welfare State. Sociologický časopis/ Czech Sociological Review 44(6): 1089 - 1111.
  • Taylor-Gooby, P. (ed.). 2004. New risks, new welfare: the Transformation of the European Welfare State. New York: Oxford University Press.
  • • Acker, J. 2006. Inequality Regimes: Gender, Class, and Race in Organizations. Gender & Society, 20 (4): 441-464.
  • • Hakim, C. 2006. „Women, Careers, and Work-life Preferences.“ British Journal of Guidance & Counselling 34 (3), s. 279–294.
  • • Crompton, R., C. Lyonette. 2005. „The new gender essentialism – domestic and family ‘choices’ and their relation to attitudes“. The British Journal of Sociology, Vol. 56 (4), s. 601–620.
  • • Kreimer, M. Labour Market Segregation and the Gender-Based Division of Labour. 2004. The European Journal of women´s studies. 2004, no. 11, s. 223-246.
  • • Blum, S., L. Formánková, I. Dobrotič. 2014. “Family Policies in ‘Hybrid’ Welfare States after the Crisis: Pathways Between Policy Expansion and Retrenchment”. Journal Social Policy & Administration, 48 (4), s. 468-491.
  • Pfau-Effinger, Birgit & Rostgaard, Tine (eds). 2011. Care, Work and Welfare in Europe. Palgrave Macmillan, Houndmills
  • Leitner, S. 2003. Varieties of Familialism. The Caring Function of the Family in
  • • Lewis, S., Humbert, L. 2010. ‘Discourse of reality’? “Work-life balance” flexible working practices and gendered organizations. Equality Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, 29 (3): 239–254.
  • • Bambra, C. 2004. “The Worlds of Welfare: illusory and gender blind?”.Social Policy & Society 3(3): 201-211.
  • • Leitner, S. 2003. Varieties of Familialism. The Caring Function of the Family in Comparative Perspective. European Societies 5(4), s. 353-375.
  • • Ryan, Michelle K. Haslam, S. Alexander. 2005. The Glass Cliff: Evidence that Women are Over-Represented in Precarious Leadership Positions. British Journal of Management, Jun 2005, Vol. 16, Issue 2, s. 81-90.
  • • Hakim, C. (2003). A New Approach to Explaining Fertility Patterns: Preference Theory, Population and Development Review, 29 (3): 349-374.
  • Morel, Nathalie, Palier, Bruno and Joakim Palme (eds.). 2012., Towards a Social Investment Welfare State? Ideas, policies and challenges, Chicago: Policy Press.
  • • Duncan, S., Irwin, S. 2004. “The Social Patterning of Values and Rationalities: Mothers’ Choices in Combining Caring and Employment.” Social Policy & Society 3(4), s. 391–399.
  • ESPING-ANDERSEN, Gøsta. The incomplete revolution : adapting to women's new roles. 1st publ. Malden: Polity, 2009, x, 214. ISBN 9780745643168. info
  • PFAU-EFFINGER, Birgit. Development of culture, welfare states and women's employment in Europe. Burlington, VT: Ashgate, 2004, 217 p. ISBN 0754616932. info
    recommended literature
  • Orloff, A. S. 1996. Gender in the welfare state. Annual Review of Sociology, 22, pp 51-78
  • Standing, G. (1999) Global labour market flexibility: seeking distributive justice. kapitola 4., s. 83 – 126.
  • Lewis, J. 1992. Gender and the Development of Welfare Regimes. Journal of European Social Policy Vol2, no.3, pp 159-173
  • Sainsbury, D. 1994. Women's and men's social rights: Gendering dimensions of welfare state. In: D. Sainsbury ed. Gendering Welfare States. London: Sage. pp. 151-169.
Teaching methods
1) exam – written test with open questions;
2)group assignments:
a) each group of students (2-3) answers the key thematic question at one (selected) lecture;
b) each group of students presents an analysis of key “gender indicators” of European labour markets
Assessment methods
presentations of both assignments and discussions
written test with open questions
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2024/PUPn4457