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Women and the Welfare State*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 November 2009

Caroline Andrew
Caroline Andrew
Affiliation:
University of Ottawa
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Abstract

The article presents a reinterpretation of the welfare state dealing with the role played by women in the development and on-going function of the welfare state. Three roles are emphasized: women's organizing and the role of women's organizations in pressuring for the measures making up the welfare state, women as workers in the welfare state and, finally, women as clients of the welfare state. Having described these roles, the current politics of the welfare state are examined in order to illustrate the importance of understanding the relations between gender and politics.

Résumé

L'article se veut une réinterprétation de l'État-providence qui insiste sur les rôles joués par les femmes dans le développement et le fonctionnement actuel de l'État-providence. Trois rôles sont soulignés: celui joué par les organisations de femmes qui ont fait un travail d'organisation et de mobilisation en faveur des mesures de l'État-providence, le rôle des femmes comme travailleuses de l'État-providence et celui des femmes comme clientes de l'État-providence. Après la description de ces rôles, certains enjeux politiques de l'État-providence actuel sont étudiés de façon à démontrer l'importance de l'analyse des relations entre les femmes et la politique.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue canadienne de science politique , Volume 17 , Issue 4 , December 1984 , pp. 667 - 684
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Political Science Association (l'Association canadienne de science politique) and/et la Société québécoise de science politique 1984

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