Tradeoffs and paradoxes in the pursuit of gender equality in the labour market

摘要

Over a decade into the 21st century scholars are critically evaluating current approaches to gender equality. Despite many advances, inequalities in the home and in the market remain deeply gendered. Together the three books in this review essay provide key insights into why gender equality appears to have stalled. Gender equality itself is multi-dimensional with tradeoffs and conflicts within and between these dimensions, while at the same time there exist tradeoffs between gender and other forms of equality, such as class. Progress along one dimension (such as pulling more women into the labour market) may hinder progress along another (such as reducing wage inequalities between men and women).