The Impact of the Economic Crisis on the Situation of Women and Men and on Gender Equality Policies

The report assesses the impact of crisis on the situation of women and men in Europe and on gender equality policies. The following four main conclusions are drawn: 1. There has been a levelling down of gender gaps in employment, unemployment, wages and poverty over the crisis. This however does not reflect progress in gender equality as it is based on lower rates of employment, higher rates of unemployment and reduced earnings for both men and women. 2. The labour market behaviour of women over the crisis has been similar to that of men. 3. There is evidence of contained but uneven retrenchment in welfare provisions in the first years of the crisis, there is a threat that fiscal consolidation may ultimately reduce both the welfare provisions and the related employment with associated gender equality impacts. 4. In the vast majority of countries gender mainstreaming has not been implemented in policy design and policy implementation over the crisis.

Format: pdf-file