Comparing Child Care Subsidy Policies in California and Australia: a feminist analysis

Abstract

In the 21st Century child care continues to be a divisive and contested area of social policy activity. Child care service provision and financing varies greatly across economically advanced countries, with little comparative documentation on the impact of these diverse policies on the women who use child care services. The research presented in this book uses a feminist cross-national approach to explore the relationship between child care subsidy policies and services, and women's lives. In a powerful way this book adds women's voices to the child care policy debate. It focuses on child care subsidy policies in Australia and California, and the stories of women who are subjected to these policies. Child care policy is established as a valuable site for theorising cross-nationally about gender and the welfare state. This book will appeal to child care policy analysts, child care advocates and those interested in gender and the welfare state.