Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-fscjk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T06:15:28.473Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Neoliberalism and Violence against Women: Can Retrenchment Convergence Explain the Path of Provincial Anti-Violence Policy, 1985–2005?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 March 2008

Cheryl N. Collier
Cheryl N. Collier
Affiliation:
Carleton University
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Abstract. This article examines the impact of neoliberalism on provincial policies aimed at addressing the problem of violence against women during a period (1985–2005) when welfare state retrenchment convergence has been documented both provincially and in a variety of Western democracies, including in Canada. Using measurements of both aggregate government expenditures and qualitative evaluations of anti-violence policy progression during this time frame, my analysis questions the existence of welfare state convergence in both Ontario and British Columbia. Instead, it demonstrates evidence of pronounced anti-violence policy divergence in both cases, which is better explained by a partisan theory of public policy framework.

Résumé. Cet article examine l'incidence du néolibéralisme sur les politiques provinciales visant à enrayer le problème de la violence faite aux femmes au cours de la période 1985–2005. Cette période coïncide avec la remise en question de l'État providence, phénomène largement documenté à l'échelle provinciale comme dans diverses démocraties occidentales, incluant le Canada. En mesurant les dépenses publiques d'agrégat ainsi que les évaluations qualitatives de l'évolution des politiques contre la violence durant cette période, mon analyse remet en question l'existence d'une convergence dans l'évolution de l'État providence en Ontario et en Colombie-Britannique. En fait, elle démontre plutôt l'évidence d'une divergence prononcée de politiques dans les deux cas, qui peut être mieux expliquée par une théorie “partisane” des politiques publiques.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue canadienne de science politique , Volume 41 , Issue 1 , March 2008 , pp. 19 - 42
Copyright
© 2008 Canadian Political Science Association

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bashevkin, Sylvia. 1998. Women on the Defensive: Living Through Conservative Times. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
Bashevkin, Sylvia. 2000. “Rethinking Retrenchment: North American Social Policy during the Early Clinton and Chrétien Years.” Canadian Journal of Political Science 33(1): 3–36.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bashevkin, Sylvia. 2002. Welfare Hot Buttons: Women, Work, and Social Policy Reform. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
BC Department of Finance. 1994–2004 inclusive. Public Accounts of British Columbia. Victoria.
BC Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services (MCAWS) 2005. “Province Announces New Women's Transition House Funding.” January 26. http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/archive/2001-2005/2005mcaws0003-000066.htm (April 17, 2006).
BC Ministry of Government Management Services and Ministry Responsible for Women's Programs. 1991. Moving Forward: Initiatives for Women in BC. A Response to the Advisory Council on Community-Based Programs for Women. Victoria.
BC Task Force on Family Violence. 1992. Report. Victoria: Department of Finance.
Bennett, Colin. 1991. “What Is Policy Convergence and What Causes It?” British Journal of Political Science 21: 215–33.Google Scholar
Blake, Donald. 1996. “The Politics of Polarization: Parties and Elections in British Columbia.” In Politics, Policy and Government in British Columbia. ed. R.K. Carty. Vancouver: UBC Press.
British Columbia Coalition of Women's Centres (BCCWC). 2003. “BC Singled Out for Criticism by UN Committee.” March 4, 2003. http://www3.telus.net/bcwomen/archives/BCCEDAW_UNsubmission_jan_03_pressrel.html (May 15, 2006).
British Columbia Coalition of Women's Centres (BCCWC). 2005. “BC Liberals Ensure Women's Voices are Silenced.” Jan. 27, 2005. http://www3.telus.net.bcwomen/archives/liberals_silence_women_jan_05.html (May 15, 2006).
British Columbia Institute against Family Violence (BCIFV). 2002. “Media Release: BC Government Cuts hurt Victims of Violence against Women.” June 24. http://www.bcifv.org/hottopics/media/june24.shtml (May 6, 2006).
British Columbia Institute against Family Violence (BCIFV). 2005. “Media Release: Extensive Funding Cut Leads to Reduced, Restructured BC Institute Against Family Violence.” Jan. 31. http://www.bcifv.org/hottopics/media/jan3105.shtml (May 6, 2006).
Brodie, Janine. 1996. “Canadian Women, Changing State Forms, and Public Policy.” In Women and Canadian Public Policy. ed. Janine Brodie. Toronto: Harcourt Brace.
Cairns, Alan. 2000. “$50M boost for victims of crime. Cell phones for women at risk.” Toronto Sun, June 28.
Canada NewsWire. 2001. “Ontario government continues to combat domestic violence.” Nov. 1. http://proquest.umi.com.proxy.library.carleton.ca/pqdweb?index+45&did+87448352&Sr (May 6, 2006).
Canada NewsWire. 2002. “Ernie Eves government announces funding to assist victims of domestic violence.” Oct. 2. http://proquest.umi.com.proxy.library.carleton.ca/pqdweb?index+20&did+202230741&S (May 6, 2006).
Canada NewsWire. 2003. “Dark day for women, equity groups in wake of program and office closures.” Mar. 31. http://proquest.umi.com.proxy.library.carleton.ca/pqdweb?index+2&did+319984251&Sr (May 6, 2006).
Canadian Press NewsWire. 2000a. “Ontario funding cuts to women's centres called blatant hypocrisy.” Oct, 2. http://proquest.umi.com.proxy.library.carleton.ca/pqdweb?index+120&did+376949111 (May 6, 2006).
Canadian Press NewsWire. 2002. “Ontario judge under review for letter sent to Flaherty on abused women.” Apr. 4. http://proquest.umi.com.proxy.library.carleton.ca/pqdweb?index+25&did+348336151&S (May 6, 2006).
Castles, Francis, ed. 1982. The Impact of Parties, Politics and Policies in Democratic Capitalist States. Beverly Hills: Sage.
Castles, Francis G. 2002. “The Future of the Welfare State: Crisis Myths and Crisis Realities.” International Journal of Health Services 32(2): 255–77.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Collier, Cheryl N. 2006. “Governments and Women's Movements: Explaining Child Care and Anti-Violence Policy in Ontario and British Columbia, 1970–2000.” Doctoral dissertation. University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.
Community Action. 2001. “Ontario funds 436 shelter beds.” In Community Action. 17(1).Google Scholar
Creese, Gillian and Veronica Strong-Boag. 2005. Losing Ground: The Effects of Government Cutbacks on Women in British Columbia, 2001–2005. http://www3.telus.net/bcwomen/archives/losinggroundexecsumm.html (May 2, 2006).
Crosby, Don. 2004. “Less emphasis on women's shelters, minister says.” Sun Times (Owen Sound), Nov. 26, A1.
Daily Press. 2001. “Northern projects get $330,000 boost.” Daily Press (Timmins ON), Feb. 2, 2.
Della-Mattia, Elaine. 2004. “Women in Crisis pleased with new funding plan.” Sault Star, (Sault Ste. Marie ON) Dec. 15, A3.
Drummond, Robert and Robert MacDermid. 1997. “Elections and Campaigning: They Blew Our Doors Off on the Buy.” In The Government and Politics of Ontario, ed. Graham White. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
Dunn, Christopher, ed. 1996. Provinces: Canadian Provincial Politics. Toronto: Broadview.
Dyck, Rand. 1996. Provincial Politics in Canada. Scarborough: Prentice-Hall Canada.
Elections BC. 2000. Election results. http://www.elections.bc.ca/elections (July 25, 2002).
Elections Ontario. 1999. Election results. http://www.electionsontario.on.ca (July 25, 2002; November 26, 2007).
Expositor. 2001. “Women's group boycotts B.C. memorial.” The Expositor (Brantford). December 7. A.10. http://proquest.umi.com.proxy.library.carleton.ca/pqdweb?did=31707371&sid=3&clientld=13709&RQT=309&VName=PQD.
Gotell, Lise. 1998. “A Critical Look at State Discourse on ‘Violence against Women’: Some Implications for Feminist Politics and Women's Citizenship.” In Women and Political Representation in Canada, ed. Manon Tremblay and Caroline Andrew. Ottawa: University of Ottawa Press.
Hay, Colin. 2006. “What's Globalization Got to Do with It? Economic Interdependence and the Future of European Welfare States.” Government and Opposition 41(1): 1–22.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hicks, Alexander M. and Duane H. Swank. 1992. “Politics, Institutions, and Welfare Spending in Industrialized Democracies, 1960–82.” American Political Science Review 86(3): 658–74.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kachuk, Patricia. 1998. Violence against Women in Relationships: An Analysis of Policies and Actions. FREDA Centre for Research on Violence against Women and Children. http://www.harbour.sfu.ca/freda (July 25, 2002).
Kendall, Gavin. 2003. “From Liberalism to Neoliberalism.” Paper presented to the Social Change in the 21st Century Conference, Centre for Social Change Research, Queensland.
Lakeman, Lee. 1999. “Why ‘Law and Order’ Cannot End Violence against Women; and Why the Development of Women's (Social, Economic and Political and Civil) Rights Might.” Canadian Women's Studies. 20(3): 24–33.Google Scholar
Leavitt, Sarah. 2002. “Provincial Government Cutbacks: The Impact on Survivors of Abuse.” BC Association of Specialized Victim Assistance and Counselling Programs Newsletter, Spring.
Leslie, Keith. 2004. “Domestic violence plan rapped slammed.” Observer (Sarnia ON), Dec. 14, A7.
Lightman, Ernie and Donna Baines. 1996. “White Men in Blue Suits: Women's Policy in Conservative Ontario.” Canadian Review of Social Policy 38: 145–52.Google Scholar
Livingston, Gillan. 2004. “Ontario giving $1.6M to aid sexual assault, violence victims.” The Standard (St. Catharines ON), May 31, A7.
Olsen, Gregg. 2002. The Politics of the Welfare State: Canada, Sweden and the United States. Don Mills ON: Oxford University Press.
O'Neill, Terry. 2002. “Lady justice gets back her blindfold; The B.C. government prepares to dump anti-male spousal-abuse policies.” Report Newsmagazine (national edition) 29(14), July 8, 32.
Ontario Advisory Council on Women's Issues (OACWI). 1992. Document. Ontario Advisory Council on Women's Issues File, Women's Movement Archives, Box 86.
Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses (OAITH). 1997. OAITH Response to the Framework for Action on the Prevention of Violence Against Women in Ontario. http://www.schliferclinic.com/oaith.htm (June 28, 2002).
Ontario Ministry of Treasury, Economics and Intergovernmental Affairs. 1992–2004 inclusive. Public Accounts. Toronto: Ministry of Treasury, Economics and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Ontario Women's Justice Network (OWJN). 2000a. “A Call for All-Party Co-operation in the Ontario Legislature in support of Emergency Measures for Women and Children.” http://www.owjn.org/vaw/ (June 28, 2002).
Ontario Women's Justice Network (OWJN). 2000b. “Provincial Government Not Prepared to Make Meaningful Commitment to End Violence against Women.” http://www.owjn.org/vanov22.htm (November 25, 2002).
Ontario Women's Justice Network (OWJN). 2002. “What's Happening with the Domestic Violence Protection Act?” http://www.owjn.org/issues/w-abuse/domup.htm (March 10, 2005).
Ontario Women's Justice Network (OWJN). 2005. “Government announces ‘Domestic Violence Action Plan.’” http://www.owjn.org/issues/w-abuse/actionplan.htm (March 10, 2005).
Pierson, Paul. 1994. Dismantling the Welfare State? Reagan, Thatcher and the Politics of Retrenchment. Cambridge MA: Cambridge University Press.
Pierson, Paul, ed. 2001. The New Politics of the Welfare State. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Pilot, Johannah. 1993. “‘Stopping the Violence’ & sexual assault centres: Co-opting centres.” Kinesis (June): 15–16.
Sainsbury, Diane. 2001. “Welfare State Challenges and Responses: Institutional and Ideological Resilience or Restructuring?” Acta Sociologica 44: 257–65.Google Scholar
Schmidt, Manfred. 1996. “When parties matter: A review of the possibilities and limits of partisan influence on public policy.” European Journal of Political Research 30: 155–83.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sigurdson, Richard. 1996. “The British Columbia New Democratic Party: Does It Make a Difference?” In Politics, Policy and Government in British Columbia. ed. R.K. Carty Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press.
Spector, Norman. 2002. “You're a mean one, Mr. Campbell.” The Globe and Mail (Toronto), Jan. 21, A11.
Teghtsoonian, Katherine. 2003. “W(h)ither Women's Equality? Neoliberalism, Institutional Change and Public Policy in British Columbia.” Policy, Organisation and Society 22(1): 26–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walker, Gillian A. 1990. Family Violence and the Women's Movement: The Conceptual Politics of Struggle. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
Whitnall, Catherine. 2001. “Women's shelter gets cash injection.” Lindsay Daily Post (Lindsay ON), Aug. 9, 1.
Women's Movement Archives. 1970–2001 inclusive. Boxes 1–148. Ottawa: University of Ottawa.