Class Disparities, Market Fundamentalism, and Work–Family Policy

Abstract

This chapter examines class disparities in existing access to work–family support in the context of market fundamentalism. It begins with a discussion of class disparities in time use and access to employer-provided benefits that facilitate work–family reconciliation, along with an overview of market fundamentalism and business objections to work–family policy. It then analyzes California's 2002 law that created a paid family leave program covering all private-sector employees in the state. It shows that advocates for paid leave built a broad coalition in support of the law and prevailed despite organized business' strong opposition to the measure. However, the longstanding class disparities in access to paid family leave were only partially alleviated. The chapter also highlights the importance of class differences among women in relation to paid family leave.