Mainstreaming Gender in Policy Narratives: Childcare Policies during Latin America’s Left Turn

Abstract:During Latin America’s left turn, women and children benefited from the expansion of social policies. This expansion, however, was not followed by the homogeneous incorporation of a gender equality perspective in childcare policies, with different processes occurring in similar countries. What might explain these differences? To address this question, we conducted qualitative and comparative research on Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. We found greater progress in mainstreaming childcare policies when a broad discourse coalition gathered around a master frame that was simultaneously mainstreamed by feminist perspectives.