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Engendering the Welfare State: How Fa(i)r Are the Scandinavian Welfare States

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  • Ozge ÝZDEÞ TERKOÐLU

    (Istanbul University, Social Sciences Vocational High School, Beyazýt, Istanbul, Turkey.)

Abstract

Welfare state or state social provision is perceived as interventions by the state in civil society to alter social forces, including male dominance. A gender-neutral welfare state is not possible on the contrary gendered assumptions constitute the backbone of the welfare state regimes. Feminists have contributed to the literature immensely and categorization of welfare states from a gender-aware perspective has become a rich field that answers “what type of social security system with which assumptions, priorities and with what type of society provision?” The paper discusses the reform agenda and feminist welfare state utopia, “the real utopia”, in which both men and women can perform as autonomous, free individuals in the public and private spheres. In this regard, the Scandinavian states are far ahead compared to the rest of the world in terms of reforms undertaken, yet the question remains: Is the Scandinavian case a blueprint for “the Real Utopia”? The paper aims to answer this question primarily by presenting feminist economists concerns on welfare state regulations, the suggested reform agenda, secondly by analyzing and evaluating Scandinavian model in a historical and conceptual context.

Suggested Citation

  • Ozge ÝZDEÞ TERKOÐLU, 2017. "Engendering the Welfare State: How Fa(i)r Are the Scandinavian Welfare States," Journal of Economic and Social Thought, KSP Journals, vol. 4(1), pages 84-96, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:ksp:journ3:v:4:y:2017:i:1:p:84-96
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bina Agarwal, 1997. "''Bargaining'' and Gender Relations: Within and Beyond the Household," Feminist Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 3(1), pages 1-51.
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    3. Elson, Diane, 1995. "Gender Awareness in Modeling Structural Adjustment," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 23(11), pages 1851-1868, November.
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    5. Janet C. Gornick & Marcia K. Meyers, 2008. "Creating Gender Egalitarian Societies: An Agenda for Reform," Politics & Society, , vol. 36(3), pages 313-349, September.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Welfare state; Feminist economics; Scandinavian; Social policy; Parental leave.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B54 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Feminist Economics
    • H53 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Welfare Programs
    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • J29 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Other

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