The politics of preserving gender inequality: de-institutionalisation and re-privatisation |
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Authors: | Anne Marie Goetz |
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Affiliation: | 1. Center for Global Affairs, New York University , New York, USA annemarie.goetz@nyu.edu |
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Abstract: | ABSTRACT A backlash against gender equality is a core component of the contemporary tilt away from liberal democracy in some contexts. The backlash has been enabled by two developments that can de-institutionalise women’s rights. First, the privatisation associated with neoliberalism, and the austerity imposed by financial crises, have hollowed-out public provision of social services. The loss or erosion of public social protection systems reinforces the demand for unpaid care work, imposing a partial re-privatisation of women in their mothering roles. Second, security and immigration crises have inflamed nationalist right-wing populist movements that make the de-institutionalisationof liberal equality protections – including attacks on women’s rights provisions – a core signifier of anti-establishment credentials. The result is a stagnation at the global level since 2016 in the rate at which the gender gap is closing. Today, the active construction of inequality by gender – and its contestation – are more explicit features of national and global politics than ever before. |
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Keywords: | Gender equality and inequality ethno-nationalism populism maternalism illiberalism gender ideology feminism neoliberalism |
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