A Feminist Exploration of Universal Basic Income: New frontiers for Norwegian Gender Equality?

This thesis aims to explore the potential impacts of universal basic income (UBI) policy on gender equality in Norway. A strong gender segregation in the labor force persists as large numbers of women work part-time and in care related sectors. This segregation and the resulting pay gaps relate to the persistence of women’s role as primary caregivers, and men’s role as primary breadwinners. Through a feminist analysis of governmental policy strategies in white paper reports, I highlight the progress and stagnation of gender parity policies. I find that the representation of gender equality as parity is rooted in the capital logic that centrally fosters a masculine ideal of a full-time worker norm (universal breadwinner). Care work appears to be subjugated, financially and socially, to productive work. This hampers the realization of the universal caregiver model, as men’s increased caregiving would require their reduced labor participation. I make visible the silences surrounding time-constraints, qualities of care, and ethical principles of human life in the gender parity strategies. Utilizing a theoretical framework of care ethics and feminist economics, I show that the UBI, as a gender-neutral policy, would not oppose pre-existing inequalities within the spheres of family and labor. Norwegian public policy has been used as a functional tool to target gender roles and change societal perceptions. Therefore, existing targeted policies should not be abandoned for UBI. UBI could be an addition to gender targeted policies, tackling general well-being and social security, if economically feasible. I conclude that UBI could find its place in a mixed welfare regime, consisting of well-targeted-, and universal policies. From a feminist care-economical perspective, overall policy goals should be to enhance sustenance, well-being and the capacity to care for each other, for oneself, community, and for the social-ecological environment we live in