The role of welfare state typologies in analysing motherhood

Danièle Meulders and Síle O'Dorchai
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Danièle Meulders: Professor, Department of Applied Economics (DULBEA), Free University of Brussels
Síle O'Dorchai: Researcher, Department of Applied Economics (DULBEA), Free University of Brussels

Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, 2004, vol. 10, issue 1, 016-033

Abstract: This article reviews the literature relating to the explanatory power of different welfare state typologies when viewed from the perspective of mothers. The seminal work of Esping-Andersen is in this respect criticised; such typologies are more easily applicable to welfare states organised according to the dominant male breadwinner model. When the specific situation of mothers is considered, the main finding is that welfare states are hardly ever pure types and are usually hybrid cases that foster mothers’ welfare in different forms and to different extents. In order to more accurately reflect current societies that rely on women both as participants in the market place and as mothers, the alternative typology of ‘gender regime clusters’ is presented. Finally, it is argued that future classifications of welfare state regimes are bound to reflect not only gender-related characteristics of today's societies but also the set of cultural values and ideals that differ across countries.

Date: 2004
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:treure:v:10:y:2004:i:1:p:016-033

DOI: 10.1177/102425890401000105

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