Family Policy Swedin in a Comparative Perspective Outline n Fertility crisis and tendency toward equality n Swedish model n Liberal experiences n Some comparisons McDonald’s incoherence theory in the industrially advanced countries the conflict between norms supporting high levels of gender equity in individual-oriented social institutions (like education system and labor market) and sustained gender inequality in family-oriented social institutions (in caring and nurturing and household maintenance) has caused fertility rates to drop. Female Employment Levels Equality of Education:% of respondents with a completed university education (ISSP 2002) Low Birthrates (Eurostats) Moves toward Gender Equality n EU: gender mainstreaming n Recommendations of international organizations n Conservative governments in Germany and Poland (Kluzik-Rostkowska) n Netherlands: increased support for daycare n If you want to support the family, there must be a family to support The Swedish Model n Access to daycare (no division between 0-3 and 3-6 and no link to healthcare) n Parental leaves n Successes n Problems Daycare Reforms n Access to daycare increased n High quality n Low on pedagogy n “Day mammas” n Parental cooperatives n Maximum fee introduced Parental Leaves n Fathers allowed since 1974 n Insurance based to encourage fathers (80% of income) n Completely flexible: can divide as like (for example can alternate days, can take 50% of pay and stay at home twice as long, etc) n Campaigns in 1980s n Little change Why so little success? n Cultural attitudes changed slowly n Differences in region, education, etc. n Problems with employers n Pressure from workplace 1990s n Center-Right government introduces “pappa month” n Liberal minister introduced it n Criticized for being “forced” n But do not need to take it, you just miss the benefit n Later the social democrats added another month n Now officially half the time for each, but the father can sign a paper giving the mother the right to use “his” months (except for the two reserved only for him) Can Fathers take care of children? Still not equal BUT if the trend continues by the year 2050 Swedish men will take 294% of the total parental leave! Why the Success? n Fathers given support in demanding leaves from their employers n The second added month not seen as force, because the total time of parental leave increased by one month, so nothing was “taken away” from the mother n Political consensus on the need for fathers to take parental leaves Individual or Collective? n Some argue leaves go against Swedish policies of individual rights n So fathers should not be able to give away any of their months n Another suggestion to reserve 1/3 for each and let them share the remaining 1/3 as they wish n Others say such more infringe upon freedom of choice Problems with the Swedish Model n Segregation in the labor market n Women in the public sector, lower paid jobs n Less women in managerial positions n Many more women then men work part-time n Lack of pedagogy at daycare centers The Conservative Model in Practice n Being given up almost everywhere except in the Czech Republic! n Lowest fertility rates and lowest female labor market participation rates n Lack of access to daycare for children under 3 big problem n No incentives for fathers to share in the leave time n Based on the idea of the ”traditional family” although this type of family only existed in large numbers for a short time in history (perhaps 75 years out of around 6 million) The Liberal Model in Practice n Relatively high fertility rates n Relatively high female labor market participation, but lower than social democratic countries promoting gender equality n More women in top economic positions n Less people in high political positions (because of electoral system) Caring under Liberalism n Mothers have to return to labor market quickly or will lose their jobs (and cannot afford the loss of income) n USA: in 1990s the courts gave women right to unpaid sick leave n Often turn to immigrants, who will work for a low wage n These immigrants often are there illegally n Lack training for taking care of children Why more women in top economic positions? n EA: women become directors of areas within private enterprises, which in other countries are state jobs, because enterprises must carry out welfare functions n Greater income equality, so professionals can afford private care n Nanny tradition n Cheap immigrant (illegal) labor available Is there an alternative to using cheap immigrant labor? Divorce Rates and Childhood Poverty % of Lone-Parent Households (1996) n End of lecture!