France on a Pedestal: How Extensive Work-Life Policies Fail to Achieve Gender Equality for Women in the Work-Place

The topic of work-life balance has become a highly contentious issue in many industrialized societies since the post-war period. Consequently, the topic has also become more prevalent in academic, managerial and national discussions. European states, both on the national level and as a bloc, have made notable advancements in assisting with work-life balance. The policies vary across different European countries, bringing into question the government‟s ability to influence women‟s employment decisions and effectively achieve higher levels of gender equality in the workplace. This paper studies France, and its extensive family policies aimed at facilitating work-life fit. France is known, and often commended, for its government subsidies and tax deductions for childcare, as well as full-time publicly funded day care for children under the age of six. Despite these measures, women on average still earn less than men. This paper makes the argument that work-life policies in France are not doing enough to help women in the workplace across different demographic and employment categories. Furthermore, the programs in place fail to address core issues of gender equality in the home, which undermines the efficacy of these policies to achieve equality for women in the work force