Women in the Economic Crisis

You would be hard pressed to find a country that has escaped the economic crisis unscathed. The economic crisis is indeed a global crisis. There are no winners. However, there are certainly losers; some, bigger losers than others. Since 2001, the gender-wage ratio has not improved. "Women are still paid only 77 cents for every dollar a man makes. The disparity is even greater for women of color: African-American women make 62 cents and Latinas make only 53 cents for every dollar of male earnings." [1]

It is apparent that around the world, women have experienced the brunt of the economic crisis. "The global economic crisis is expected to plunge a further 22 million women into unemployment, which would lead to a female unemployment rate of 7.4 percent."

Further, given that women have a limited access to education, they tend to work lower paying jobs. And with a lack of education, they tend to have fewer skills and will ultimately end up out of work sooner. Unfortunately, as the world economy attempts to recover, the rate of poverty continues to rise. As the rate of poverty rises, so does the economic gap that exists between men and women. The international journal Gender and Development (published for Oxfam GB by Routledge/Taylor and Francis) is looking to examine the economic gender crisis.

In July of 2010, Gender and Development will publish a special issue titled Gender and the Economic Crisis. The hope is that the issue will result in "Mapping, learning and networking of what we know to date about the impact of the economic crisis on women and gender relations, and future implications for national growth, poverty alleviation and feminist empowerment." The issue is a step in a process that will hopefully lead to more representation for women and form more strategies available to women to cope when dealt with economic hardship.

As Sarah K. Gould, an expert in Women's economic development says, "Women must be better represented at policy tables; their perspectives and leadership are crucial to bring about long-term economic stability and well-being -- for women, families and communities. So as we hold key members of the public and private sector accountable for our country's worsening economic disaster, let's turn to women driving change at local, state and national levels for economic-justice solutions." Gender and Development's July 2010 issue is looking to accomplish just that.