The Criticisms and Contributions of Feminism to Welfare State and Social Policy

The study presents gender inequalities that have appeared in the establishment and institutionalization of welfare state and social policy. There is a paradox between feminist movements and social policy: state intervention is required in order to change patriarchal social structures, but for state interventions to establish gender equality, the demands of feminist movements must first be translated into the language of the dominant ideology. The study aims to underline feminist acquisitions in this difficult relationship. To this end, it summarizes the powerful criticisms directed by feminist literature against the main stream of social policy and aims to make visible the contribution of studies focusing on women's work in Turkey, and to underline the implications for economic and public policy.