ESRC Gender Equality NetworkESRC Gender Equality Network

Research Priority Network on Gender Research Priority Network on Gender Inequalities in Production & ReproductionInequalities in Production & Reproduction

www.genet.ac.ukwww.genet.ac.uk

BackgroundBackground

Demise of male breadwinner family - Demise of male breadwinner family - labour market changes/changes in labour market changes/changes in parenting partnershipparenting partnership

Paradigm shift in gender relations Paradigm shift in gender relations

Greater policy recognition of equality Greater policy recognition of equality although policies ambiguousalthough policies ambiguous

Some human capital convergence but Some human capital convergence but inequalities persistent inequalities persistent

GeNet AimsGeNet Aims

Produce theoretically informed high quality Produce theoretically informed high quality empirical research that illuminates three inter-empirical research that illuminates three inter-related aspects of gender inequalities (life related aspects of gender inequalities (life course pathways, resource contexts & policy course pathways, resource contexts & policy response)response)Contribute to theoretical debates e.g. space-time Contribute to theoretical debates e.g. space-time dimensions of life course theory; contextualised dimensions of life course theory; contextualised capabilities; gender inequalitiescapabilities; gender inequalitiesContribute to evidence of how lives/structures Contribute to evidence of how lives/structures are changing & how policy can intervene to are changing & how policy can intervene to effectively to promote greater equalityeffectively to promote greater equality

9 Linked Projects9 Linked Projects3 Inter-related themes3 Inter-related themes

Pathways to Adult Attainment & Life Course ProcessesPathways to Adult Attainment & Life Course ProcessesChanging occupations and careers of women and menChanging occupations and careers of women and menBiographical agency and developmental outcomesBiographical agency and developmental outcomesGendered pathways to adulthoodGendered pathways to adulthood

Resources, Gender, Ethnic & Class InequalitiesResources, Gender, Ethnic & Class InequalitiesGender, time allocation & the wage gapGender, time allocation & the wage gapWithin-household inequalities in income and powerWithin-household inequalities in income and powerGender, ethnicity, migration and service employmentGender, ethnicity, migration and service employmentClass & gender, employment and familyClass & gender, employment and family

Policy Responses to Gender InequalitiesPolicy Responses to Gender InequalitiesAddressing gender inequality through corporate governanceAddressing gender inequality through corporate governancePolicy initiatives tackling inequalities in work and care in UK & EUPolicy initiatives tackling inequalities in work and care in UK & EU

Addressing Gender Equality through Responsible Corporate Addressing Gender Equality through Responsible Corporate Governance Governance (Simon Deakin)(Simon Deakin)

Pragmatism

Optimism

Absence of collective bargaining; absence of mandatory pay audits; absence of shareholder activism

Kingsmill review – responsible corporate governance; share holder activism – substitute for hard law in achieving pay equality Discrimination Law Review – ‘reflexive’ approaches to regulation of equal pay alternative to hard law

Scepticism

UK and EU Initiatives UK and EU Initiatives on work and care on work and care

Jane Lewis Jane Lewis

Male Breadwinner Model (MBM) ; women’s economic dependence on men; provision Male Breadwinner Model (MBM) ; women’s economic dependence on men; provision for care; didn’t fit with reality. for care; didn’t fit with reality.

Citizen Worker Model (CWM) problematic. No better reality fit than MBM – obligation to Citizen Worker Model (CWM) problematic. No better reality fit than MBM – obligation to care problematic.care problematic.

Hard and soft policy logics differ e.g. US anti-discrimination laws (Hard) ; UK social Hard and soft policy logics differ e.g. US anti-discrimination laws (Hard) ; UK social policy approach (soft) policy approach (soft)

Since 1997 UK has embraced policy goal shift in favour of better work/family balance, Since 1997 UK has embraced policy goal shift in favour of better work/family balance, but instruments of policy implementation less bold but instruments of policy implementation less bold (e.g. no shift on 48 hr working week, maternity leave lengthened not parental leave)(e.g. no shift on 48 hr working week, maternity leave lengthened not parental leave)

Policy fudges around gender equality aiming at gender neutral solutions to work-life Policy fudges around gender equality aiming at gender neutral solutions to work-life balance – but unrealistic when family care remains so highly genderedbalance – but unrealistic when family care remains so highly gendered

Careers ProjectCareers Project(Shirley Dex, Heather Joshi et al)(Shirley Dex, Heather Joshi et al)

How far is production and reproduction How far is production and reproduction incompatible or in tension, particularly for incompatible or in tension, particularly for women?women?

How do associated processes differ for men, How do associated processes differ for men, women and children’s lives across generations? women and children’s lives across generations?

Data: British Cohort Studies 1946, 1958, 1970 and New MillenniumData: British Cohort Studies 1946, 1958, 1970 and New Millennium

Careers Project Careers Project

How do policy initiatives and employer How do policy initiatives and employer practices affect careers of men and practices affect careers of men and women and mothers and fathers?women and mothers and fathers?

Is part-time work directive reducing part-Is part-time work directive reducing part-time pay penalty?time pay penalty?

Are penalties for career gaps narrowing Are penalties for career gaps narrowing across generations?across generations?

UK Cohort differences in family and education: women now aged 35-85

At least one child

Ever Married

Ever Divorced by 50

No qualifications: Women

No qualifications:Men

Higher Quals: Women

Higher Quals Men

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1910 1922 1934 1946 1958 1970

year of birth (approx)

%

Masculinization of Female Life Course (UK Cohort effects: Participation- Joshi et al 2005)

Years between first birth and next job at the median

13

12

9

6

2

1

13

12

10

6

5

4

14

13

8

6

0 00

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

1910 1922 1934 1946 1958 1970

mother's year of birth

year

s AllNo qualificationsHigher qualifications

Time out-of-work penalty increasedTime out-of-work penalty increasedpredicted probabilities of occupational downward mobilitypredicted probabilities of occupational downward mobility

(WES: 1922-53; NCDS 1958)(WES: 1922-53; NCDS 1958)

Part-time work penalty increasedPart-time work penalty increasedpredicted probabilities of occupational downward mobilitypredicted probabilities of occupational downward mobility

(WES: 1922-53; NCDS 1958)(WES: 1922-53; NCDS 1958)but will p-t work directive be effective? but will p-t work directive be effective?

Paid and Unpaid Work Paid and Unpaid Work intrinsically linked intrinsically linked

If women want to get to top in business or professional If women want to get to top in business or professional world then recommendations from research clear:world then recommendations from research clear:

Do not have children – or at least don’t expect to spend Do not have children – or at least don’t expect to spend much time with themmuch time with them

Do not take time out of employment career to care for Do not take time out of employment career to care for othersothers

Do not put others needs above own, if interested in Do not put others needs above own, if interested in maximising pay & promotion opportunities maximising pay & promotion opportunities

Gender inequalities in production & Gender inequalities in production & reproduction – the implications reproduction – the implications

GeNet events archive on GeNet events archive on www.genet.acwww.genet.ac

Shows materials of conferences/workshops/seminars Shows materials of conferences/workshops/seminars including:including:

Gender and valuing of care Gender and valuing of care

Gender inequalities in ageing societies Gender inequalities in ageing societies

Women & Employment Survey – 25Women & Employment Survey – 25thth anniversary anniversary

Gender, class, employment and family Gender, class, employment and family

Challenges facing GeNet & EHRCChallenges facing GeNet & EHRC

How to bestHow to best

avoid gender being interpreted as “women”avoid gender being interpreted as “women”

balance the attention given to inequalities in paid balance the attention given to inequalities in paid and unpaid workand unpaid work

ensure that focus on diversity doesn’t imply ensure that focus on diversity doesn’t imply disproportionate attention given to minorities disproportionate attention given to minorities

enable research primarily concerned with UK to enable research primarily concerned with UK to engage with international agendas engage with international agendas