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Canada Research Chair in Citizenship and Governance

Canada Research Chair in Citizenship and Governance. Demography, gender and life-cycle. Catching up to reality Jane Jenson Université de Montréal prepared for: Global Europe - Social Europe. Debate on the future of the European Social Model Bruxelles, 5 December 2006. Argument in brief.

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Canada Research Chair in Citizenship and Governance

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  1. Canada Research Chair in Citizenship and Governance Demography, gender and life-cycle. Catching up to realityJane JensonUniversité de Montréalprepared for: Global Europe - Social Europe. Debate on the future of the European Social ModelBruxelles, 5 December 2006

  2. Argument in brief • The EU’s commitment to equal opportunities between women and men is long-standing and has fostered major change • but significant inequalities and challenges remain • There are challenges because new social risks create new realities. Social models must catch up to reality… • Two of the most challenging and interconnected new realities • Altered demography – ageing society and birth rate • Shifting patterns of gender inequalities in income security • Gender relations provide a window into where catching up is needed in order to achieve, among others, the goal of equal opportunities.

  3. Demographic reality 1: Patterns of social care in an ageing society Reality a huge social achievement, …but new needs now exist • Almost 1 in 3 Europeans is providing informal care to another adult. • With consequences for their own economic autonomy in the present and future • With consequences for their own health and well-being • Household services a significant source of – not very good – jobs expansion • Elder care, domestic services (and child care) 90% female • Pay rates hugely substandard. Challenge is achieving equality for the elderly AND well-being of their – overwhelmingly – female and – often new immigrant – carers in the face of this new reality. • Can not be left simply to the market or to the family…

  4. Catching up to the reality of fewer children – demographic reality 2

  5. Challenge - what to do about falling fertility rates micro – macro dilemma • Historic reduction in social risk • Questions about societal sustainability One “prescription” - attention to the “fertility gap” • especially byattention to reconciling work and family in the early years But the evidence does not support this “simple” solution

  6. Reality check - there is no correlation between fertility rates and quality of parental leaves

  7. Reality check – the correlation between fertility and available early childhood services is weak

  8. Europeans tell another story about their reality

  9. It’s the labour market… • Thereality – stubborn labour market inequalities • “Activation policies” produce “activity” but not necessarily either autonomy, security or social inclusion: • 77% of working poor are women. They are poor because of : • Low wage levels • Insufficient / few hours of work • or both ! • Household composition plays a major role • … and this despite years of anti-discrimination policies • Thechallenge - finding a policy mix for income security that will provide confidence about the future as well as the present.

  10. Catching up to social realities means… • Rethinking the family – work nexus • this is much more than early years services, important as they are • Also need attention to income security in present and future – based on good wages, good pension income, adequate services for all types of social care. • Assuring well-being in light of the new realities of the economic and the social may mean • new instruments, • but also reaffirming long-standing goals – equal opportunities to achieve autonomy, equality and social inclusion .

  11. Data sources • European Commission. 2005a. Joint Report on Social Protection and Social Inclusion [2005]. Brussels: European Commission, DG Employment and Social Affairs. • Tony Fahey and Zsolt Spéder. 2004. Fertility and family issues in an enlarged Europe. Dublin: European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions. • OECD [Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]. 2006. Starting Strong II. Early Childhood Education and Care. Paris: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

  12. To read more • Jane Jenson. 2004. Catching up to reality. Building the case for a new social model. Ottawa: CPRN. Available on www.cprn.org • Jane Jenson. 2006. “The European Social Model: Gender and Generational Equality.” In Anthony Giddens, Patrick Diamond and Roger Liddle (eds). Global Europe, Social Europe. Cambridge: Polity Press, 151-170. • Jane Jenson. 2006. “Family, Work and Welfare. Present and future challenges.” Prepared for FAMILY, WORK AND WELFARE IN PAST AND PRESENT: A TRANSATLANTIC WORKSHOP, 10-11 November 2006, University of North Carolina. Available at: http://www.cccg.umontreal.ca/publications_FR.html#Workingpapers

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