Abstract

ALCANIZ, Mercedes. Conciliation policies in family and work domains: Change or continuity in the gender system?. Ex aequo [online]. 2008, n.18, pp.85-102. ISSN 0874-5560.

Spanish women’s participation in the labour market has increased by 10 points in the last ten years (1998-2008), whereas men’s collaboration in housework and childcare has only slightly increased, according to surveys carried out by the Spanish National Institute for Women. This article shows how family-work conciliation policies implemented by the Spanish Government through Act 39/1999 mainly focus on women’s access to the labour market. Although directed to men and women alike, these measures are mostly used by women, thus maintaining continuity in the gender system, since men have the option to decide whether to participate in household tasks or not. Therefore, the introduction of actions to achieve family-work conciliation must be accompanied by a change in the prevailing culture.

Keywords : gender system; family-work conciliation; positive actions; gender equality plans.

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