Women and Welfare Conditionality: Lived Experiences of Benefit Sanctions, Work and Welfare

This book explores the gendered bias of conditional welfare reforms and offers a new understanding of British welfare reform policies and practice by combining feminist analysis, lived experience, and street-level bureaucracy.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 190 pages
Publication date: 30 October 2023
Publisher: Bristol University Press

The recent welfare reforms, driven by austerity narratives and a gender-neutral rationale, have fallen short in recognizing the distinct demands and rewards of paid employment and unpaid care. This book delves into a wealth of qualitative longitudinal evidence to shed light on the lived experiences of women in the realm of welfare and work. By giving voice to social security recipients, this book uncovers the hidden gendered bias of conditional welfare reforms, challenging dominant political discourses, policy design, and practice norms. Through the combination and development of three interdisciplinary perspectives—feminist analysis, lived experience, and street-level bureaucracy—this book offers a fresh understanding of British welfare reform policies and practices.

The book begins by examining the historical context of welfare reform in Britain, highlighting the ways in which gender has shaped policy outcomes and experiences. It then explores the gendered nature of work and care, highlighting the disparities between men and women in terms of job security, pay, and opportunities for career advancement.

Using a feminist analysis, the book identifies the ways in which welfare reforms have perpetuated and reinforced gender inequality. It argues that conditional welfare reforms, designed to promote work-based incentives and reduce dependency on benefits, have inadvertently created barriers for women who are responsible for caring for children, elderly relatives, or individuals with disabilities. These reforms have led to a disproportionate burden on women, who are often forced to choose between paid employment and unpaid care responsibilities, leading to negative impacts on their health, well-being, and economic security.

The book also draws on lived experience to provide a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by women in the welfare system. It includes interviews with social security recipients who share their personal stories of navigating the welfare system, including experiences of discrimination, stigma, and marginalization. These accounts highlight the need for policies and practices that prioritize the needs and experiences of women, recognizing the intersectionality of gender, race, class, and other social identities.

Furthermore, the book employs street-level bureaucracy as a lens to examine the implementation of welfare reform policies and practices. It explores the ways in which bureaucratic processes and decision-making frameworks have perpetuated gender inequality and marginalized women's voices. It argues that the lack of diversity and representation in the bureaucracy has led to policies that are not responsive to the diverse needs and experiences of women.

To address these challenges, the book proposes a range of policy recommendations and interventions. It advocates for a more gender-responsive approach to welfare reform, including the provision of flexible work arrangements, affordable childcare, and support for unpaid care responsibilities. It also calls for greater diversity and representation in the bureaucracy, to ensure that policies and practices are informed by the experiences and needs of women.

In conclusion, this book offers a valuable contribution to the literature on welfare reform and gender inequality. By shedding light on the lived experiences of women in the welfare system, it challenges dominant political discourses, policy design, and practice norms. It provides a new understanding of the gendered bias of conditional welfare reforms and proposes practical solutions to address the challenges faced by women in the realm of welfare and work. This book is a must-read for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers interested in understanding the complexities of gender, work, and welfare in contemporary society.

Weight: 306g
Dimension: 156 x 234 x 14 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781447347743