XIX ISA World Congress of Sociology (July 15-21, 2018)

136

Labour Markets and Welfare States in Transition: Barriers and Opportunities for Work-Family Balance and Gender Equality Part I

RC06 Family Research (host committee)

Language: English

Over the last decades important societal developments have altered the situation for family practices. Increasing numbers of women in education and the work force, the new role of fathers as caregivers as well as providers and the expansion of family-friendly policies. These developments point towards more family-friendly and gender equal societies. However, labour markets, as well as welfare states, are undergoing major transitions facing increasing global competition, insecurity and pressure for continuously increased productivity.  These challenges have introduced great polarization among employees resulting from the fragmentation in employment arrangements and differential quality of jobs. These trends appeared concurrently with young adults’ unemployment even among university graduates, waves of immigrations and workers’ mobility. The reduced quality of jobs offered to men and women in service and caring occupations has defied men’s and women’s ability to provide for their families creating new forms of inter-generational inter-dependencies. Thus, conflicting demands and rationalities of work, family and welfare states might collide even in societies with extensive family-friendly policies.  As modern working life and family life has become more individualized and flexible with less clear boundaries, debates about work- family dynamics have expanded.  This session welcome papers analysing barriers and opportunities for work-family reconciliation and gender equality in the changing labour markets and welfare states. Papers addressing the interactions between policies, ideologies, practices are specifically welcome.