Description
Book SynopsisContemporary 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.
Trade Review'. . . 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.'Table of ContentsContents: 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
