The implications of Universal Credit for women's citizenship: an investigation into the experiences and views of mothers subject to conditionality.

实行普遍信贷（2013-2022年）是一项针对工作年龄人口的新的经济状况调查福利，是一项重大的福利改革。福利条件（即福利的支付条件是受益人从事特定活动并以某些方式行事）是普遍信贷的核心。根据这项新的福利，夫妻双方必须指定一名“负责任的看护人”。单亲父母将自动被指定为“负责任的照顾者”。这一负责的照料者将根据最年幼子女的年龄受到不同程度的条件限制。如果不满足这些条件，可能会受到长达三年的制裁。妇女将不成比例地受到对负责任的照料者附加条件的影响，因此可能对妇女的公民身份产生影响，性别包容的公民身份概念既促进妇女在与男子平等的条件下工作，又重视无报酬的照料工作（主要由妇女承担），从而扩大选择。然而，引入负责任的照顾者条件可能会贬低无报酬的照顾工作：从2017年4月起，有三岁及三岁以上子女的母亲将被要求寻求有报酬的工作，并因不遵守规定而面临福利制裁。负责任的照顾者附加条件也可能阻碍实现劳动力市场平等的努力，因为它侧重于让母亲参加工作，而不是她们参加的工作类型。此外，这种条件可能剥夺妇女在工作和照顾方面的选择权。本研究将实证调查这些问题。最重要的研究问题是：根据目前的劳动力市场条件和母亲的照顾责任，母亲在试图满足普遍信贷的工作期望方面有什么经验和看法？相关的子问题是：1。普遍信贷内在的福利条件如何以及在何种程度上影响母亲关于无酬照护工作和有酬工作的决定？2.母亲们如何看待与工作有关的普遍信贷的期望，根据他们的照顾责任？3.福利条件如何影响妇女的有偿就业前景？方法本研究将开始与文献和政策的详细审查，以开发一个知识库，并建立研究的理论基础。将采用定性的半结构化个人访谈，因为这些访谈适合于获得关于个人经验和观点的详细和深入的数据。该研究的地点将是大曼彻斯特，这是首批接受家庭普遍信贷申请的地区之一。参与者的选择将通过有目的的抽样进行。与潜在参与者的接触将通过现有的联系方式进行谈判，如曼彻斯特公民咨询。样本将包括30名接受普遍信贷的妇女：15名单身母亲和15名有夫妻关系的母亲，以便进行比较。将使用专题数据分析法对所得到的数据进行分析，以便对所研究的现象进行详细说明。时间表第1年：起草文献综述，获得伦理批准，招募参与者。第2年：构建和试点访谈指南，进行访谈，分析数据。第3年：进行成员检查，更新文献综述，知识交流和影响这个及时和相关的研究项目将是第一个实证研究，探讨普遍信贷条件对妇女公民身份的影响。该项目的产出和见解，包括以证据为基础的政策和做法建议，将有益于各种利益攸关方，包括决策者、从业人员、地方当局以及公共和第三部门服务提供者。定性证据库也将有利于地方、国家和国际宣传机构、慈善机构、社区团体和接受普遍信贷的母亲。

The introduction of Universal Credit (2013-2022), a new means-tested benefit for working age people, constitutes significant welfare reform. Welfare conditionality (whereby benefits are paid on the condition that recipients undertake specified activities and behave in certain ways) is central to Universal Credit. Under this new benefit, couples are to nominate a "responsible carer". Lone parents will automatically be designated "responsible carer". This responsible carer will be subject to varying degrees of conditionality depending on the age of the youngest child. Failing to meet these conditions could result in sanctions of up to three years. Women will be disproportionately affected by conditionality for responsible carers and thus there may be implications for women's citizenship.Gender inclusive conceptions of citizenship both promote women's work on equal terms as men and value unpaid care work (chiefly undertaken by women), thereby expanding choice. However, the introduction of responsible carer conditionality may devalue unpaid care work: from April 2017 mothers with children aged three and above will be expected to seek paid work and face benefit sanctions for non-compliance. Responsible carer conditionality may also impede efforts towards labour market equality by focusing on getting mothers into work rather than on the type of work they enter. In addition, this conditionality may deny women choice regarding work and care. This research will empirically investigate these concerns. The overarching research question is: What are mothers' experiences and views of attempting to meet the work-related expectations of Universal Credit in light of current labour market conditions and their caring responsibilities?The linked sub-questions are:1. How, and to what extent, does the welfare conditionality inherent within Universal Credit affect mothers' decisions surrounding unpaid care work and paid work?2. How do mothers view the work-related expectations of Universal Credit in light of their caring responsibilities?3. How does welfare conditionality affect women's paid employment prospects?MethodsThe research will begin with a detailed review of the literature and policy in order to develop a knowledge base and establish the theoretical underpinnings of the study. Qualitative semi-structured individual interviews will be employed as these are appropriate for gaining detailed and in-depth data of individuals' experiences and views. The location of the study will be Greater Manchester, one of the first areas to accept Universal Credit applications from families. Selection of participants will be achieved through purposive sampling. Access to potential participants will be negotiated through existing contacts such as Citizens Advice Manchester. The sample will consist of thirty women in receipt of Universal Credit: fifteen lone mothers and fifteen mothers in couple relationships to enable comparison. The resulting data will be analysed using thematic data analysis in order to produce a detailed account of the phenomena under study.TimescaleYear 1: Draft literature review, obtain ethical approval, recruit participants.Year 2: Construct and pilot interview guide, conduct interviews, analyse data.Year 3: Conduct member checks, update literature review, write up thesis.Knowledge exchange and impactThis timely and relevant research project will be the first empirical study to explore the implications of Universal Credit conditionality for women's citizenship. Outputs and insights from the project, including evidenced based recommendations for policy and practice, will be useful for a diverse range of stakeholders including policy makers, practitioners, local authorities, and public and third sector service providers. The qualitative evidence base will also be beneficial to local, national and international campaigning bodies, charities, community groups and mothers in receipt of Universal Credit.