Sex Equality or Exclusive Emancipation? Sociological Inequality Implications on the Family Policy Reform

Focusing on gender & social inequalities, we analyze two current reforms in German family policy: the 2007 parental leave reform & the discussion on a reform of the joint taxation of married couples. These reforms lead to changes in policy instruments & objectives that are not adequately...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Berliner journal für Soziologie 2008-01, Vol.18 (1), p.99-128
Main Authors: Henninger, Annette, Wimbauer, Christine, Dombrowski, Rosine
Format: Article
Language:ger
Subjects:
Family Policy
Federal Republic of Germany
Policy Reform
Sexual Inequality
Social Inequality
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Focusing on gender & social inequalities, we analyze two current reforms in German family policy: the 2007 parental leave reform & the discussion on a reform of the joint taxation of married couples. These reforms lead to changes in policy instruments & objectives that are not adequately described by the thesis of a change towards an adult worker model. Rather, so our first argument, the reforms lead to a thoroughgoing change of the interplay between (de-)familialization & (de-)commodification, as they not only put a stronger focus on labor market activation, but also try to increase birth rates via financial incentives. However, both reform projects mainly provide incentives for higher labor market participation & birth rates among highly qualified women, which means an important shift away from the objective of redistribution that has been an important impetus for German family policy so far. This development has severe consequences for social inequalities, as it promises an "exclusive emancipation" for highly qualified women only. Figures, References. Adapted from the source document.
ISSN:0863-1808
DOI:10.1007/s11609-008-0006-7