Privatization, Law, and the Challenge to Feminism

Privatization has caused a large reconfiguration of the relations between the state, the market and the family in the late-20th and the early-21st centuries, all of which has had a profound effect on the lives of women.

This collection of essays addresses this timely issue by examining eight case studies on the role of law in various arenas, such as fiscal and labour market policy, family and immigration law, and laws designed to regulate health services and to prohibit child prostitution.Starting from the shared assumption that privatization signals a transition from welfare state to neo-liberal state, the authors illustrate the role of law in this process, and its impact on women and on the gender order.

In doing so, the contributors lay bare the complex interplay between a globalized political economy, social reproduction, and legal regulation, thus contributing to feminist political theory and legal theory.

Of relevance to political science and law practitioners, scholars and students - especially those interested in the areas of public policy and the state - these essays contribute to debates about gender and should attract a wide feminist audience.