The Politics of Child Care Policy in Canada and Sweden
The Politics of Child Care Policy in Canada and Sweden
Gayle Fernandes
212606133
PPAS 3761.3/ POLA 3170
July 29, 2013
The Politics of Child Care Policy in Canada and Sweden
In many respects, Canada has become something of a Mecca for liberal welfare regimes. Instead this politico-economic myth portraying Canada as the sensible middle ground for universality and solidarity is a rather ill informed characterization of its liberal regime, particularly during the post war years. And so, the post war era called for welfare state restructuring inspired by neoliberal views of the proper relationship of states, markets and citizens followed by the erosion of forms of social citizenship implying cuts and changes in social program structures.
The process of welfare state restructuring post war was closely associated to changing gender relations, notably the erosion of the man as the breadwinner and the rise of double earners and/or lone parent families. With changing family patterns, this newly generated need for support services like national childcare, has received limited support in Canada by the state which allowed a very uneven development of childcare across the country, in coverage as well as form. Given their emerging roles in society, women and feminists sought to re model childcare arrangements in Canada from a more liberal pattern to a more social regime. However, with the liberal regime being characterized a distinctive male cast, women had to be organized and limited to the institutional terrain of the state with the hopes of achieving goals of equality and simultaneously childcare.
Therefore the states role in the provision of early childhood education and care services is of particular interest, since such services are closely linked to other social progress and economic policy developments. Robust education systems, full employment and other labor market policies
Gayle Fernandes
212606133
PPAS 3761.3/ POLA 3170
July 29, 2013
The Politics of Child Care Policy in Canada and Sweden
In many respects, Canada has become something of a Mecca for liberal welfare regimes. Instead this politico-economic myth portraying Canada as the sensible middle ground for universality and solidarity is a rather ill informed characterization of its liberal regime, particularly during the post war years. And so, the post war era called for welfare state restructuring inspired by neoliberal views of the proper relationship of states, markets and citizens followed by the erosion of forms of social citizenship implying cuts and changes in social program structures.
The process of welfare state restructuring post war was closely associated to changing gender relations, notably the erosion of the man as the breadwinner and the rise of double earners and/or lone parent families. With changing family patterns, this newly generated need for support services like national childcare, has received limited support in Canada by the state which allowed a very uneven development of childcare across the country, in coverage as well as form. Given their emerging roles in society, women and feminists sought to re model childcare arrangements in Canada from a more liberal pattern to a more social regime. However, with the liberal regime being characterized a distinctive male cast, women had to be organized and limited to the institutional terrain of the state with the hopes of achieving goals of equality and simultaneously childcare.
Therefore the states role in the provision of early childhood education and care services is of particular interest, since such services are closely linked to other social progress and economic policy developments. Robust education systems, full employment and other labor market policies