Citation

Afshar H. Twenty-First Century Society 2010; 5(1): 65-80.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/17450140903484023

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Interdisciplinarity and feminist research have provided invaluable insights into the importance of the domestic work of women and the need for its remuneration as a first step towards achieving public policies that facilitated balance between genders. By the 20th century they found champions in formidable women in position of power that were well aware of the different contributions made by men and women to the economy and sought to assist home based women and open pathways to entitlement to equal pay. But by the 21st century there is a fear that the government has shifted the focus towards equal pay in the formal sector, without recognising the constrains on many women that prevents them from being recognised as equals in the formal market. This paper will consider the difficulties of introducing a gendered understanding to the Equality and Welfare Bills going through the British Parliament. A comparison will be made with the relative success of the Prison Reform proposals and the withdrawal of the mandatory rights of employers to dismiss workers at 65.