Vocabularies of citizenship and gender: Denmark.

The language of citizenship has not till recently been used explicitly in the political discourse or in the academic debate about the welfare state and democracy in Denmark. This article explores the connection between citizenship and the sub-vocabularies of social equality, universality and participation in the political discourse. It is suggested that during the 1990s new vocabularies of citizenship have been introduced, as well as a new framework of citizenship, in the academic debate. The changes are discussed on the basis of three different cases: (a) parent-citizens as users of service provision; (b) the temporary leave schemes for citizen workers; and (c) activation of workers. The new language is contradictory and con tested. And it is an open question whether in the future we shall see a break with the former discourse of social equality and universality and an expansion of a more work-oriented welfare state, or a move toward a more solidaristic discourse that expands the principles behind the leave schemes. The article concludes by speculating about the future chal lenges for citizenship and the need to develop a new vision of equality and solidarity. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]