This book provides an accessible engaging account of childcare policies in Britain and beyond. In examining the progress of women's initiatives and childcare, Marchbank considers subjects including: the history of childcare policy, particularly during the Second World Warchildcare policy and women's economic activity across the ECdetailed case studies of policy making in practicethe covert and overt barriers to equality-based policy makingsuccessful strategies and counter-strategies for policy makers and campaigners.