This book illustrates why both academic research and policy thinking need to factor-in gender hierarchies and structures if they are to address some of the key challenges of contemporary societies: the widespread informality and insecurity of paid work and the crisis of care.

List of Tables List of Figures Preface Notes on Contributors Gender and Social Policy in a Global Context: Uncovering the Rendered Structure of 'the Social'; S.Hassim & S.Razavi PART 1: HISTORICAL AND REGIONAL TRAJECTORIES IN SOCIAL PROVISIONING Mothers at the Service of the New Poverty Agenda: The 'Oportunidades' Programme in Mexico; M.Molyneux Gender and Post-socialist Welfare States in Central Eastern Europe: Family Policy Reforms in Poland and the Czech Republic Compared; S.Steinhilber Maternalist Policies versus Women's Economic Citizenship? Gendered Social Policy in Iran; V.M.Moghadam Gender Equality and Developmental Social Welfare in South Africa; S.Hassim Social Policy Reforms and Gender in Japan and South Korea; I.Peng The Evolution of the Women-Friendly State: Opportunities and Constraints in the Swedish Welfare State; B.Hobson The Adult-Worker-Model Family and Gender Equality: Principles to Enable the Valuing and Sharing of Care; J.Lewis & S.Giullari PART 2: LABOUR-MARKET INFORMALITY AND THE SEARCH FOR SOCIAL SECURITY Labour-Market Informalization, Gender and Social Protection: Reflections on Poor Urban Households in Bolivia ad Ecuador; L.Benería & M.S.Floro Working People and Access to Social Protection; F.Lund PART 3: GENDER DIMENSIONS OF SOCIAL-SECTOR RESTRUCTURING Gender and Health Sector Reform: Analytical Perspectives on African Experience; M.Mackintosh & P.Tibandebage Health-Sector Reform in China: Gender Equality and Social Justice; J.Wang Secondary Education in the Indian State of Uttar Pradesh: Gender Dimensions of State Policy and Practice; J.Jha & R.Subrahmanian PART 4: FINANCING SOCIAL PROVISIONING AND COUNTING IN WOMEN Gendered Implications of Tax Reform in Latin America: Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, and Jamaica; E.Huber Expectations versus Realities in Gender-responsive Budget Initiatives; D.Budlender Index