Gender Regimes in Transition in Central and Eastern Europe

ISBN-13: 9781847424204 / Angielski / Miękka / 2009 / 232 str.

Pascall, Gillian

Opis

The understanding of welfare states has been much enriched by comparative work on welfare regimes and gender. This book uses these debates to illuminate the changing gender regimes in countries of Central and Eastern Europe. It has particular significance as countries in the region make the transition from communism and into a European Union (EU) that has issues of women's employment, work-life balance, and gender equality at the heart of its social policy. The countries of Western Europe have, to varying degrees, been changing from a traditional male breadwinner/female carer model towards that of a duel earner, although in reality most are one-and-a-half, with women's paid work competing with their care work. But what is the trajectory of those countries of Central and Eastern Europe now joining the EU? Transition from communism has challenged those welfare structures that supported women in the labour market. Are these countries re-traditionalising as women's employment reduces, nurseries close and competition puts mothers at a disadvantage? The analysis draws on quantitative comparative data and on rich qualitative data from a new study of mothers in Polish households, illuminating the effects of changing welfare and gender relations from the perspective of those most directly affected - mothers of young children."Gender regimes in transition in Central and Eastern Europe" is an important addition to the literature and is recommended to academics and students interested in the study of gender relations, welfare states, and international and comparative European social policy. The insights gained will also be of value to those engaged in welfare policy and practice.