Cohort: POLS 42

Topic of the thesis: (De)familialization without (de)genderization? Family policy regimes and the politics of fathers' inclusion in unpaid care work in Europe

Abstract: Social policy scholarship produced significant theoretical and empirical insights into cross-national variation in family policy regimes. Much of this literature focused on (de)familialization, or the extent to which the state or market externalizes care responsibilities from families, as well as the political determinants of such variation. Fewer studies, however, examine how family policies redistribute care within families, or pursue (de)genderization. This project aims at filling this gap. In particular, it has three interconnected aims. First, it theorizes (de)genderization as distinct and complementary to (de)familialization, as this analytical distinction has both empirical and political implications. Second, it maps how different European countries' family policy packages position themselves simultaneously along both axes. Third, it investigates cross-country and intra-cluster variation, studying the politics of (de)genderization. Introducing this dimension, the political debate becomes contentious again, as (de)genderization directly deals with the roles of men and women in society. This research is carried out through a mixed-method design, combining an original dataset with qualitative process tracing in selected country cases.

Research interests: Comparative welfare states; feminist welfare state analysis; family policy and gender; politics of degenderization; care regimes.

Graduated from: Università degli Studi di Milano

Degrees obtained: Bachelor's degree in Political Science; Master's degree in Global Politics and Society.

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