En problematisering af formel ligestilling i velfærdsstaten - En samfunds- og filosofikritisk læsning af teorien om care ethics

Abstract

Emnet for nærværende speciale er kønsligestilling, i rammerne af den danske velfærdsstat. Jeg tager udgangspunkt i ligestillingsbegrebet i Ligestillingsloven, og laver en problematisering af denne. Så, problemformuleringen er som følger: hvilke barrierer ligger til grund for at opnå reel ligestilling? Det er min påstand at der eksisterer et skel mellem formel ligestilling (som set i Ligestillingsloven) og reel ligestilling. Specialets formal er at undersøge hvordan skellet mellem formel ligestilling og reel ligestilling kan identificeres og potentielt løses. Da formel ligestilling centrerer ideen om ‘lige muligheder for begge køn’, vil jeg have et fokus på begrebet om ’mulighed’. Hvad vil det sige at have lige muligheder, og hvornår ved vi at vi har opnået det? Problemfeltet undersøges gennem flere forskellige perspektiver, herunder historiske, sociologiske, statistiske, men primært filosofiske. For at identificere barrierer mod at opnå reel ligestilling, retter jeg blikket mod feministisk filosofi og hvordan filosoffer i denne gren har behandlet problemet. Først og fremmest viser det sig at feministisk filosofi beror på et kritisk blik på eksisterende filosofi. Mange feminister mener at vestlig filosofi er problematisk, fordi det i vid udstrækning er androcentrisk og baseret på idealer uden empiriske modstykker. Gennem denne kritik identificeres en vifte af problemer inden for den vestlige filosofitradition, som i sig selv udgør barrierer mod at opnå reel ligestilling. Herefter anvendes teorien om care ethics, som analytisk, filosofisk værktøj til at identificere barrierer mod at opnå reel ligestilling. Care ethics indeholder flere koncepter, der bidrager til at forstå problemet mere nuanceret. I analysen har jeg tre primære fokusområder, i relation til barrierer. De er 1) arbejdsliv, 2) grænsen mellem det politiske og det private og 3) ligestillingsbegrebet i Ligestillingsloven. I Ligestillingslovens ligestillingsbegreb, er målet at skabe lige muligheder for begge køn, samt en anerkendelse og værdsættelse af forskelle. Dette er baseret på en antagelse om at vi kan reducere individer til en form for homogen kerne, en universel base, hvor forskelle kan kompenseres og udlignes gennem universelle behovsfortolkninger. Det er udtryk for et værdineutralt udgangspunkt. Ifølge teorien om care ethics, er det problematisk at isolere individer fra deres sociale betingelser, i og med at ens sociale betingelser (som for eksempel afhængige pårørende) kan være afgørende for ens reelle muligheder. I dette perspektiv, er det meningsløst at operere med et ideal for ligestilling, der ikke har reel tilknytning til virkeligheden. Arbejdsmarkedsdeltagelse er i vid udstrækning afgørende for individets livschancer, og det er problematisk at der eksisterer et arbejdsideal, der er i konflikt med dét at indgå i omsorgsrelationer (for eksempel at have pårørende). Initiativer til at opnå ligestilling, har i høj grad fokuseret på at få kvinder til at deltage på arbejdsmarkedet gennem incitamenter og økonomiske kompensationer. Der har ikke på tilsvarende vis været fokus på at få mænd til at deltage i og forpligte sig til omsorgsaktiviteter. Kvinders roller har udviklet sig voldsomt gennem de seneste hundrede år. Det har mænds roller derimod ikke. Noget tyder på at dét at skabe lige muligheder, ikke automatisk medfører en realisering af ligestilling. Det store fokus på at skabe bedre muligheder for arbejdsmarkedsdeltagelse, for kvinder, illustrerer hvor gennemsyrende det maskuline arbejdsideal er i dag. Hvis vi reelt skal opnå ligestilling, er det afgørende at vi begynder at værdsætte alle køn samt deres forskelle. Inklusiv traditionelt set feminine aktiviteter, da disse er afgørende for et velfungerende velfærdssamfund. Man må som minimum begynde med et mere afbalanceret ligestillingsbegreb, hvor der laves konkrete initiativer til at anerkende og værdsætte alle køn og forskelle.

The subject of this dissertation is gender equality, in the setting of the Danish welfare state. I shall problematize the concept of gender equality in the Danish Equality Act, holding this understanding of equality as representative of the general understanding, in Denmark. So, the problem definition is as follows: What are the obstacles against achieving actual gender equality? It is my assertion that there exists a gap between formal gender equality (as formulated in the Danish Equality Act) and actual gender equality. It is the purpose of this thesis to investigate how this gap between formal gender equality and actual gender equality, can be seen and possibly solved. As formal gender equality centers around the concept of ‘equal opportunity for both genders’, my focus is largely on the concept of ‘opportunity’. What does it mean to have equal opportunity, and how do we know when it is achieved? The problem area is investigated through a variety of perspectives, e.g. historical, sociological, statistical, but mainly philosophical. To identify barriers against achieving actual gender equality, I look to feminist philosophy and how philosophers in this line has worked with the problem. First and foremost, the basis of feminist philosophy is a critical perspective on existing philosophy. Many feminists mean that Western philosophy is problematic, because it is basically androcentric and based on ideals that have no empirical counterpart. Through this critique, I identify a range of problems within the Western philosophy tradition, that in themselves contribute a barrier against achieving actual gender equality. After this, I use the theory of care ethics, as an analytical philosophical tool, to identify existing barriers against achieving actual gender equality. Care ethics contributes to the understanding of the problem, with a range of concepts. In the analysis, I have three foci, in relation to obstacles. They are 1) work life, 2) the division between what is private and what is political and 3) the concept of formal gender equality. In the concept of gender equality, as seen in the Danish Equality Act, the goal is to create equal opportunity for both genders, while recognizing and acknowledging differences between them. This relies on the assumption that we can reduce individuals to a sort of homogenous core, a universal basis, where differences can be uniformly compensated. In one way it expresses a neutral standpoint, free of value. According to the theory of care ethics, it is problematic to isolate individuals from their social contingencies, as social contingencies (such as dependent relations) can be essential to one’s actual opportunities. In this perspective, it is not practically meaningful to operate with an ideal for gender equality, if it is not situated in real life. As participation in labor market is essential for the individual’s opportunities in life, it is problematic to operate with a work life ideal, that conflicts with having dependent relations. Gender equality has largely focused on getting women to participate in labor marked, through incentives and economic compensations. There has not correspondingly been focus on getting men to participate in and commit to caring activities. Women’s roles have developed a lot in the past hundred years. Men’s roles have not equally developed. It seems that creating equal opportunities, is not enough to really change the situation around actual gender equality. The focus on creating better opportunities for women, to participate in the labor market, illustrates how piercing the masculine ideal is today. To achieve gender equality, it is essential to start valuing all genders and their differences. Including traditionally feminine activities, as these are essential to a functioning welfare society. This must at least start with a more balanced concept of gender equality, where actions are taken to actually acknowledge and value all genders and appreciate differences.

A master thesis from Aalborg University

En problematisering af formel ligestilling i velfærdsstaten - En samfunds- og filosofikritisk læsning af teorien om care ethics

[A Critical Investigation of Formal Gender Equality in the Welfare State - A Study of Care Ethics as Critical, Political Theory]