This book examines the gender construction of the welfare state, welfare regimes, and social policy, particularly the way in which it is reflected in both "traditional" areas of social intervention, such as family, care organization, poverty, labor market, and social security, as well as in "modern" areas, such as violence against women and economic migration.

In each of these areas, the most important theoretical approaches are commented on from a gender perspective, and applications of social policy that burden women and hinder the advancement of gender equality are identified.

It also analyzes the gendered dimensions of international, European, and national policies (including existing legislation) aimed at increasing women's employment, developing care social infrastructures, reconciling work and family, promoting the social inclusion of migrant women, and combating forms of male violence, such as domestic violence and sexual harassment in the workplace.