Date of Award
Spring 6-12-2026
Document Type
Masters Thesis
Degree Name
M.A. in Economics
Organizational Unit
College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences, Economics
First Advisor
Chiara Piovani
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
All Rights Reserved.
Keywords
Social protection policy, Care economy, Feminist political economy, Care, Capitalism
Abstract
This thesis examines how neoliberal transformation of social protection policy influences gender dynamics within the care economy. Care is necessary for well-being, but traditionally excluded from economic thinking. This thesis completes a historical overview of how care has been incorporated or excluded by different economic paradigms and is anchored in feminist political economy that emphasizes care as a central consideration. A comparative analysis across California, Texas, and Sweden demonstrates how social protection, specifically access to paid parental leave, varies across regimes and results in inconsistent care outcomes. The findings suggest that social protections can reduce some inequalities, but inadequately address the structural relationship between capitalism and care. This thesis argues that meaningful empowerment of care requires economic reorientation in which care is acknowledged as essential.
Copyright Date
6-2026
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Rights Holder
Rachel Carruthers
Provenance
Received from ProQuest
File Format
application/pdf
Language
English (eng)
Extent
82 pgs
File Size
489 KB
Recommended Citation
Carruthers, Rachel, "Neoliberalism & the Care Economy: Exploring the Gendered Impacts of Social Protection Systems" (2026). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2704.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/2704
Included in
Economic Policy Commons, Economic Theory Commons, Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, Feminist Philosophy Commons, Political Economy Commons, Social Justice Commons, Social Policy Commons, Social Welfare Commons