If the focus of interest is democratization, including women’s freedom, a basic
income is preferable to stakeholding. Prevailing theoretical approaches and conceptions of individual freedom, free-riding seen as a problem of men’s employment,
and neglect of feminist insights obscure the democratic potential of a basic income.
An argument in terms of individual freedom asself-government, a basic income as a
democratic right, and the importance of the opportunity not to be employed shows
how a basic income can help break both the link between income and employment
and the mutual reinforcement of the institutions of marriage, employment, and
citizenship.