Outline and assess the view that the Welfare State is Patriarchal

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Katie Scott

Outline and assess the view that the Welfare State is Patriarchal

For the feminist the welfare system incorporates patriarchal ideology found in the rest of society. The primary role of women is assumed to be domestic and childcare work. Their ideas also assume that the man is the breadwinner and has the highest wage. Patriarchy is a male dominated society, new laws and equality acts are meant to have made society more equal for men and women, however Feminists consider the number of issues that reflect just how patriarchal our society is, and the gender inequalities that are an issue.

The family household is seen as a miniature welfare system that relies on the unpaid work of women which is highly unrecognised. Welfare tends to be aimed at families, but it is mainly within families that women are exploited and oppressed. As far back as the Beveridge report it was clear that the presumed role of married women was in the home being the stereotypical mother and wife. They are assumed to be in a heterosexual married relationship and financially dependent on their husbands.  The ‘family wage’ assumed that women were provided for by their husbands, the wages and benefits were paid mainly to men on the assumption that they are the breadwinner for the family and any other income is just a supplementary wage, and that the men are responsible for the wife and children. However the idea of the woman bringing in the supplementary wage is not as common anymore.

Another feminist issue is the oppression of women in the home, women labour and look after their children without any acknowledgement whilst the husband goes to work and is seen as the ‘hard worker’.  Men are usually responsible for the decisions and the bills and assumed to be the head of the house. It was only until 10 years ago that women were allowed to fill in their own tax return forms, their husbands would have to enter the wife’s personal details of their incomes.

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Amount of welfare received depends on national insurance contributions throughout the year from the recipient. Women are disadvantaged as the contributory system does not account for any leave women may take from work for pregnancy. Women may need to stop work for long periods of time to look after their children or other members of the family. Women’ as care givers is an on going issue even today. In terms of welfare, women are expected to have the role as carers for the young sick and elderly. Women are far more likely to look after a sick or elderly ...

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