Paperback
Gender Divisions and Working Time in the New Economy
Changing Patterns of Work, Care and Public Policy in Europe and North America
9781847204974 Edward Elgar Publishing
Contemporary societies are characterised by new and more flexible working patterns, new family structures and widening social divisions. This book explores how these macro-level changes affect the micro organisation of daily life, with reference to working patterns and gender divisions in Northern and Western Europe and the United States.
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Critical Acclaim
Contributors
Contents
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Contemporary societies are characterised by new and more flexible working patterns, new family structures and widening social divisions. This book explores how these macro-level changes affect the micro organisation of daily life, with reference to working patterns and gender divisions in Northern and Western Europe and the United States.
Through detailed comparative analysis and case studies from France, Norway, Sweden, the UK and the US, this collection demonstrates how, despite globalisation and the spread of neo-liberalism, states still exercise some autonomy in terms of the implementation of equalities and ‘city time’ policies. These policies affect people’s capacity to organise their daily lives and ameliorate the adverse impact of new working patterns. However, the authors also show that, despite the proliferation of work–life balance policies which potentially encourage a greater reconciliation of caring and paid work, inequalities in the distribution of paid work and caring between men and women remain remarkably resilient.
Bringing together academic analysis and policy studies, Gender Divisions and Working Time in the New Economy will appeal to students and scholars of comparative social policy, economic sociology, economic geography and sociology. In particular, those with an interest in issues of employment relationships, gender, welfare states, working time, work–life balance and ‘city time’ will find the book to be of great value.
Through detailed comparative analysis and case studies from France, Norway, Sweden, the UK and the US, this collection demonstrates how, despite globalisation and the spread of neo-liberalism, states still exercise some autonomy in terms of the implementation of equalities and ‘city time’ policies. These policies affect people’s capacity to organise their daily lives and ameliorate the adverse impact of new working patterns. However, the authors also show that, despite the proliferation of work–life balance policies which potentially encourage a greater reconciliation of caring and paid work, inequalities in the distribution of paid work and caring between men and women remain remarkably resilient.
Bringing together academic analysis and policy studies, Gender Divisions and Working Time in the New Economy will appeal to students and scholars of comparative social policy, economic sociology, economic geography and sociology. In particular, those with an interest in issues of employment relationships, gender, welfare states, working time, work–life balance and ‘city time’ will find the book to be of great value.
Critical Acclaim
‘. . . the book presents leading-edge research on a variety of issues associated with work/life integration and gender equity. It will be of value to academic researchers and students of gender, employment and social trends, and its release in paperback should extend its accessibility.’
– British Journal of Industrial Relations
‘. . . this collection makes an important contribution to the literature on women’s employment and to comparative social policy. It will be informative for graduates and researchers – and compulsory reading for policymakers.’
– Judith Glover, Social Policy and Administration
‘This edited collection adds significantly to our understanding of work–life balance in the new economy. . . The recognition that analyses of the new economy must extend below the level of the nation-state and beyond the workplace may well be the book’s most important contribution.’
– Valerie Preston, Economic Geography
– British Journal of Industrial Relations
‘. . . this collection makes an important contribution to the literature on women’s employment and to comparative social policy. It will be informative for graduates and researchers – and compulsory reading for policymakers.’
– Judith Glover, Social Policy and Administration
‘This edited collection adds significantly to our understanding of work–life balance in the new economy. . . The recognition that analyses of the new economy must extend below the level of the nation-state and beyond the workplace may well be the book’s most important contribution.’
– Valerie Preston, Economic Geography
Contributors
Contributors: S. Baines, A. Bergman, J.-Y. Boulin, B. Brandth, M. Brockmann, B. Burchell, J. Cornford, R. Crompton, S. Duncan, C. Fagan, J. Fagnani, M. Fisher, L. Gonäs, I. Hardill, H. Johnstone, E. Kvande, M.-T. Letablier, L. McDowell, J. Morris, A. Nyberg, D. Perrons, J. Pillinger, S. Posocco, H.B. Presser, K. Ray, T. Rees, K. Rosenberg, J. van Loon, S. Walsh, K. Ward
Contents
Contents:
1. Introduction: Work, Life and Time in the New Economy
Diane Perrons, Linda McDowell, Colette Fagan, Kath Ray and Kevin Ward
Part I: Social and Spatial Divisions and Work–Life Management in the New Economy
2. Work Intensification in the UK
Brendan Burchell
3. Employment in a 24/7 Economy: Challenges for the Family
Harriet B. Presser
4. Enterprising Women: Remaking Gendered Networks on Wall Street in the New Economy
Melissa Fisher
Part II: Work, Time and the Work–Life Balance
5. The French 35-Hour Working Law and the Work–Life Balance of Parents: Friend or Foe?
Jeanne Fagnani and Marie Thérèse Letablier
6. Economic Crisis and the Sustainability of the Dual-Earner, Dual-Carer Model
Anita Nyberg
7. Class, Gender and Work–Life Articulation
Rosemary Crompton and Michaela Brockmann
Part III: Work, Life and the Household
8. Mothers’ Work–Life Balance: Individualized Preferences or Cultural Construction?
Simon Duncan
9. Care Politics for Fathers in a Flexible Time Culture
Berit Brandth and Elin Kvande
10. Individualization and ‘Identity-Risks’ in Dual-Career Households
Irene Hardill and Joost van Loon
Part IV: Work, Time and Urban Services
11. E-enabled Active Welfare: Creating the Context for Work–Life Balance
Sarah Walsh, Susan Baines and James Cornford
12. Local Time Policies in Europe
Jean-Yves Boulin
13. Developing Positive Flexibility for Employees: The British Trade Union Approach
Jo Morris and Jane Pillinger
Part V: Equality Policies in the New Economy
14. Promoting Equality in the Private and Public Sectors
Teresa Rees
15. Equal Opportunity and Unwarranted Pay Differences. A Case Study of Gender-Related Pay Differences in a Knowledge-based Society
Lena Gonäs, Ann Bergman and Kerstin Rosenberg
16. Conclusion: Work, Life and Time in the New Economy
Diane Perrons, Colette Fagan, Linda McDowell, Kath Ray and Kevin Ward
Bibliography
Index
1. Introduction: Work, Life and Time in the New Economy
Diane Perrons, Linda McDowell, Colette Fagan, Kath Ray and Kevin Ward
Part I: Social and Spatial Divisions and Work–Life Management in the New Economy
2. Work Intensification in the UK
Brendan Burchell
3. Employment in a 24/7 Economy: Challenges for the Family
Harriet B. Presser
4. Enterprising Women: Remaking Gendered Networks on Wall Street in the New Economy
Melissa Fisher
Part II: Work, Time and the Work–Life Balance
5. The French 35-Hour Working Law and the Work–Life Balance of Parents: Friend or Foe?
Jeanne Fagnani and Marie Thérèse Letablier
6. Economic Crisis and the Sustainability of the Dual-Earner, Dual-Carer Model
Anita Nyberg
7. Class, Gender and Work–Life Articulation
Rosemary Crompton and Michaela Brockmann
Part III: Work, Life and the Household
8. Mothers’ Work–Life Balance: Individualized Preferences or Cultural Construction?
Simon Duncan
9. Care Politics for Fathers in a Flexible Time Culture
Berit Brandth and Elin Kvande
10. Individualization and ‘Identity-Risks’ in Dual-Career Households
Irene Hardill and Joost van Loon
Part IV: Work, Time and Urban Services
11. E-enabled Active Welfare: Creating the Context for Work–Life Balance
Sarah Walsh, Susan Baines and James Cornford
12. Local Time Policies in Europe
Jean-Yves Boulin
13. Developing Positive Flexibility for Employees: The British Trade Union Approach
Jo Morris and Jane Pillinger
Part V: Equality Policies in the New Economy
14. Promoting Equality in the Private and Public Sectors
Teresa Rees
15. Equal Opportunity and Unwarranted Pay Differences. A Case Study of Gender-Related Pay Differences in a Knowledge-based Society
Lena Gonäs, Ann Bergman and Kerstin Rosenberg
16. Conclusion: Work, Life and Time in the New Economy
Diane Perrons, Colette Fagan, Linda McDowell, Kath Ray and Kevin Ward
Bibliography
Index
