Dr. Yerkes will talk about the CAPABLE project, which developed from her desire to understand how gender inequality in work, family and private lives continues to exist despite advancements made in work-family policies in recent decades. Work-family research has produced key insights in this area, but work-family theories fail to sufficiently explain the tenacity of gender inequality. By adopting a multi-dimensional approach that captures differences in capabilities and how individuals are embedded in diverse community and social contexts, Yerkes hopes to generate fundamentally new knowledge on how work-life balance policies impact men and women’s capability to live the life they have reason to value. Additionally, the CAPABLE project aims to produce key insights into how sustainable work-life policies addressing gender inequality in work-life can be developed at national and local levels.

Dr. Mara A. Yerkes is an Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Social Science at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. Her research centres on comparative social policy (including welfare states, industrial relations and citizenship regimes) and social inequalities (related to work, care, communities and families, in particular relating to gender, generations, and sexuality). Yerkes leads the ERC-project CAPABLE, a comparative study in eight European countries which investigates women and men’s real opportunities to balance work-life, and the role of social policy in shaping these opportunities.

This event will take place 5-6.30pm on Wednesday 19 June in B55 Law and Social Sciences, University Park.

Refreshments will be available from 4.30pm and there will be a wine reception and BBQ at 6pm.

Attendance is free and all are welcome. For more information, and to book your place, please visit marayerkeslecture.eventbrite.co.uk.