There are significant differences between the roles played by women and men in achieving welfare goals. Feminist theorists have analysed the implications of these differences and postulated that gender is a major force in shaping ideas. However, this view has been challenged by some writers, including post-structuralist and deconstructionist feminists, who have drawn attention to the significant differences in outlook, behaviour and circumstances among women. This paper assesses the relevance of these arguments by exploring the connection between sex and ideas about statutory provision of social services and government and private provision of health care and education. The analysis is based on data from a national survey of attitudes to state and private welfare in Australia.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Alcoff, L. (1988), 'Cultural Feminism Versus Post-Structuralism: The Identity Crisis in Feminist Theory', Signs, 13, 3, 405-436.
2.
Bacchi, C. (1990), Same difference. Feminism and Sexual DifferenceSydney, Allen and Unwin.
3.
Baldock, C. and Cass, B. (eds) (1983), Women, Social Welfare and the State, Sydney, Allen and Unwin.
4.
Broom, D. (ed.) (1984), Unfinished Business: Social Justice for Women in Australia, Sydney , Allen and Unwin.
5.
Bryson, L. (1983), 'Women as Welfare Recipients: Women, Poverty and the State', in C. Baldock and B. Cass (eds), Women, Social Welfare and the State, Sydney, Allen and Unwin.
6.
Cass, B. (1985), 'Rewards for Women's Work', in J. Goodnow and C. Pateman (eds), Women, Social Science and Public Policy, Sydney, Allen and Unwin.
7.
Cass, B. (1986), 'The Case for Review of Aspects of the Australian Social Security System', Social Security Review, Background Paper, no. 1.
8.
Castles, F.G. (1985), The Working Class and Welfare, Sydney, Allen and Unwin.
9.
Crompton, R. and Mann, M. (eds) (1986), Gender and Stratification, Oxford, Polity Press.
10.
Dale, J. and Foster, P. (1986), Feminists and State Welfare, London, Routledge and Kegan Paul.
11.
De Lauretis, T. (1987), Technologies of Gender: Essays on Theory, Film and FictionBloomington, Indiana University Press.
12.
Delmar, R. (1986), 'What is Feminism?', in J. Mitchell and A. Oakley (eds), What is Feminism?, Oxford, Basil Blackwell.
13.
Edwards, A. (1990), 'Feminism and Social Welfare: Alternative Representations of Women and Gender in the Social Policy Literature', in A. Jamrozik (ed.), Social Pulicy in Australia: What Future for the Welfare State?, Proceedings of the National Social Policy Conference, Sydney, 5-7 July 1989, vol. 3, Social Policy Research Centre, 19-34.
14.
Ehrenreich, B. and Fox Piven, F. (1984), 'The Feminization of Poverty', Dissent, Spring, 1984.
15.
Finch, J. and Groves, D. (eds) (1983), A Labour of Love. Women, Work and Caring, London, Routledge and Kegan Paul.
16.
Finch, J. and Groves, D. (1980), 'Community Care and the Family. A Case of Equal Opportunities?', Journal of Social Policy, 9, 487-511.
17.
Foster, C. (1988), 'Towards a National Retirement Incomes Policy' , Social Security Review, Issues Paper, no. 6.
18.
Foster, P. (1983), Access to Welfare, London, Macmillan.
19.
Goot, M. and Reid, E. (1975), Women and Voting Studies: Mindless Matrons or Sexist Scientism, London, Sage.
20.
Graham, H. (1983), 'Caring. A Labour of Love' in J. Finch and D. Groves (eds), A Labour of Love. Women, Work and Caring, London, Routledge and Kegan Paul.
21.
Henwood, M. and Wicks, M. (1985), 'Community Care, Family Trends and Social Change' , Quarterly Journal of Social Affairs, 1, 4.
22.
Hindess, B. (1988), Choice, Rationality, and Social TheoryLondon, Unwin Hyman.
23.
Hirschman, A.O. (1970), Exit, Voice and LoyaltyCambridge, Mass., Harvard University Press.
24.
Hooks, B. (1987), Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center, 3rd printingBoston , South End Press.
25.
Jones, F. (1989), 'Occupational Prestige in Australia', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Sociology, 25, 187-199.
26.
Maynard, M. (1990), 'The Re-Shaping of Sociology? Trends in the Study of Gender', Sociology, 24, 2, 269-90.
27.
Mclntosh, M. (1981), 'Feminism and Social Policy', Critical Social Policy, 1, 32-42.
28.
Papadakis, E. (1990a), Attitudes to State and Private Welfare in Australia, Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney.
29.
Papadakis, E. (1990b), 'Conjectures about Public Opinion and the Australian Welfare State', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Sociology , 26, 2, 209-34.
30.
Papadakis, E. (1992), 'Public Opinion, Public Policy and the Welfare State', Political Studies, vol. 40, no. 1, 21-37.
31.
Papadakis, E. and Taylor-Gooby, P. (1987), 'Consumer Attitudes and Participation in State Welfare', Political Studies, 35, 467-81.
32.
Pascall, G. (1986), Social Policy: A Feminist Analysis, London, Tavistock.
33.
Pateman, C. (1988), 'The Patriarchal Welfare State', in A. Gutmann (ed.), Democracy and the Welfare State, Princeton, Princeton University Press.
34.
Porter, P. (1983), 'Social Policy, Education and Women', in C. Baldock and B. Cass (eds), Women, Social Welfare and the State, Sydney, Allen and Unwin.
35.
Randall, V. (1982), Women and Politics, London , Macmillan.
36.
Rimmer, L. (1983), 'The economics of work and caring', in J. Finch and D. Groves (eds), A Labour of Love. Women, Work and Caring, London, Routledge and Kegal Paul.
37.
Robinson, J. and Griffiths, B. (1986), 'Australian Families: Current Situation and Trends: 1969-1985', Social Security Review, Background Paper, no. 10.
38.
Segal, L. (1987), Is the Future Female?: Troubled Thoughts on Contemporary FeminismLondon, Virago.
39.
Smith, D. (1988), The Everyday World as Problematic, Milton Keynes, Open University.
40.
Taylor-Gooby, P. (1985), 'Attitudes to Welfare', Journal of Social Policy, 14, 1, 73-81.
41.
Walby, S. (1988), 'Gender Politics and Social Theory', Sociology, 22, 2, 215-32.
42.
Williams, F. (1989), Social Policy: A Critical Introduction, Cambridge, Polity Press.
