Gender Group Interest or Gender Ideology? Understanding U.S. Support for Family Policy within the Liberal Welfare Regime

Abstract

Many market-centered democracies have more comprehensive and generous family policies than the United States. While there is an assumed lack of public support for such policies, little research exists on Americans' family policy attitudes, especially in a comparative perspective. The authors examine the United States within the liberal welfare state framework, comparing it to nations with the greatest institutional, historical, and cultural similarities (Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand). Using data from the 1994 and 2002 International Social Survey Program, the authors explore support for and determinants of paid maternity leave and financial benefits for childcare. Results show that despite common assumptions, Americans are as supportive and often more so than citizens in other liberal welfare states. However, Americans differ significantly according to sources of policy support. Specifically, the gender gap in policy preferences is larger in the United States than in other liberal welfare states. Conversely, there is a weaker relationship in the United States between liberal work/family attitudes and support of these policies. The results have implications for proponents of family policy and theoretical debates concerning gender, public opinion, and family policy.