Social Policy and Social Movements: Gender and Social Policy

Abstract

Women are at the heart of welfare systems. They form the majority of paid employees in health, social care and education. More often than men they act as unpaid carers, as mothers and carers of frail elderly people and younger people with disabilities. As volunteers and neighbours providing care, women are more numerous than men. So in the public, private, formal, informal and voluntary sectors women are key – though not often powerful – providers of welfare.