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She Does It All: The Devaluation of Caregiving in EU Work-Life Balance Policy

Togba, Amayah LU (2025) MRSK62 20251
Human Rights Studies
Abstract
This thesis explores how mothers as workers, care, and gender equality are constructed in EU work-life balance policy. The aim is to contribute to a deeper understanding of how institutional visions of equality are constructed and what they include or exclude. The analysis focuses on two central policy documents: the 2019 Work-Life Balance Directive and the 2017 Commission initiative on work-life balance for working parents and carers. By implementing Nancy Fraser’s justice principles and models alongside Carol Bacchi’s “What’s the Problem Represented to Be?” (WPR) approach, the analysis examines how caregiving, work and autonomy are framed.
The study finds that EU policy largely defines gender equality through uniform labour market... (More)
This thesis explores how mothers as workers, care, and gender equality are constructed in EU work-life balance policy. The aim is to contribute to a deeper understanding of how institutional visions of equality are constructed and what they include or exclude. The analysis focuses on two central policy documents: the 2019 Work-Life Balance Directive and the 2017 Commission initiative on work-life balance for working parents and carers. By implementing Nancy Fraser’s justice principles and models alongside Carol Bacchi’s “What’s the Problem Represented to Be?” (WPR) approach, the analysis examines how caregiving, work and autonomy are framed.
The study finds that EU policy largely defines gender equality through uniform labour market participation. Caregiving is represented as a barrier to employment rather than a right or value in its own terms. While the policy promotes formal rights such as parental leave and flexible work, these are shaped by economic logic and primarily support those already in stable employment. Informal care, structural inequalities, and diverse caregiving realities are largely left unaddressed. This conclusion highlights the disconnect between symbolic goals and material support for care. Equality remains tied to paid work, and caregiving is only valued when compatible with economic participation. The study argues for broader, more inclusive policy visions that support caregiving as a legitimate social contribution whether or not it occurs alongside formal employment. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
Denna uppsats undersöker hur mödrar som arbetstagare, omsorg och jämställdhet konstrueras i EU:s politik för balans mellan arbete och privatliv. Syftet är att bidra till en djupare förståelse för hur institutionella visioner om jämställdhet formas och vad de inkluderar respektive utesluter. Analysen fokuserar på två centrala policydokument: Arbetslivsbalansdirektiv från 2019 och Kommissionens initiativ från 2017 om balans mellan arbete och privatliv för arbetande föräldrar och vårdgivare. Genom att tillämpa Nancy Frasers rättviseprinciper och modeller tillsammans med Carol Bacchis analysverktyg “What’s the Problem Represented to Be?” (WPR), granskas hur omsorg, arbete och autonomi ramas in.
Studien visar att EU:s politik i stor... (More)
Denna uppsats undersöker hur mödrar som arbetstagare, omsorg och jämställdhet konstrueras i EU:s politik för balans mellan arbete och privatliv. Syftet är att bidra till en djupare förståelse för hur institutionella visioner om jämställdhet formas och vad de inkluderar respektive utesluter. Analysen fokuserar på två centrala policydokument: Arbetslivsbalansdirektiv från 2019 och Kommissionens initiativ från 2017 om balans mellan arbete och privatliv för arbetande föräldrar och vårdgivare. Genom att tillämpa Nancy Frasers rättviseprinciper och modeller tillsammans med Carol Bacchis analysverktyg “What’s the Problem Represented to Be?” (WPR), granskas hur omsorg, arbete och autonomi ramas in.
Studien visar att EU:s politik i stor utsträckning definierar jämställdhet genom likformig arbetsmarknadsdeltagande. Omsorg framställs som ett hinder för sysselsättning snarare än som en rättighet eller ett värde i sig. Även om politiken främjar formella rättigheter som föräldraledighet och flexibelt arbete, formas dessa utifrån ekonomisk logik och gynnar främst dem som redan har en stabil anställning. Informell omsorg, strukturella ojämlikheter och olika omsorgsrealiteter lämnas i stort sett utan åtgärd. Slutsatsen lyfter fram ett glapp mellan symboliska mål och faktiskt stöd för omsorg. Jämställdhet förblir kopplad till betalt arbete, och omsorg värderas endast när den är förenlig med ekonomisk delaktighet. Uppsatsen argumenterar för en bredare och mer inkluderande policy visioner som erkänner omsorg som ett legitimt samhällsbidrag. Oavsett om det sker inom eller utanför formell sysselsättning. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Togba, Amayah LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
Hon gör allt: Nedvärderingen av omsorgsarbete i EU:s politik för balans mellan arbete och privatliv
course
MRSK62 20251
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
work-life balance, caregiving, mothers, gender equality
language
English
id
9211788
date added to LUP
2025-09-15 11:11:24
date last changed
2025-09-15 11:11:24
@misc{9211788,
  abstract     = {{This thesis explores how mothers as workers, care, and gender equality are constructed in EU work-life balance policy. The aim is to contribute to a deeper understanding of how institutional visions of equality are constructed and what they include or exclude. The analysis focuses on two central policy documents: the 2019 Work-Life Balance Directive and the 2017 Commission initiative on work-life balance for working parents and carers. By implementing Nancy Fraser’s justice principles and models alongside Carol Bacchi’s “What’s the Problem Represented to Be?” (WPR) approach, the analysis examines how caregiving, work and autonomy are framed.
The study finds that EU policy largely defines gender equality through uniform labour market participation. Caregiving is represented as a barrier to employment rather than a right or value in its own terms. While the policy promotes formal rights such as parental leave and flexible work, these are shaped by economic logic and primarily support those already in stable employment. Informal care, structural inequalities, and diverse caregiving realities are largely left unaddressed. This conclusion highlights the disconnect between symbolic goals and material support for care. Equality remains tied to paid work, and caregiving is only valued when compatible with economic participation. The study argues for broader, more inclusive policy visions that support caregiving as a legitimate social contribution whether or not it occurs alongside formal employment.}},
  author       = {{Togba, Amayah}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{She Does It All: The Devaluation of Caregiving in EU Work-Life Balance Policy}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}