Unit 4.3, Feminist

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MODULE 4: Unit 3

What does it mean to invest in the Feminist Economy?

This Is What A Feminist Economic Future Looks Like Women have been at the forefront of social movements to change an unjust economy, especially as the situation for women has deteriorated further since 2020 with the spread of the COVID pandemic and ensuing financial collapse in many countries. But what should women be fighting for? What does a feminist economic future look like? 1. AN ECONOMY THAT RECOGNISES AND REWARDS CARE LABOR A feminist economy means recognising care labour as work that is still unpaid or underpaid. As well as the huge pay gap between genders, addressing gender inequalities in terms of unpaid care and domestic work is crucial. Changes in the modern workplace may further add to the burden on women as the boundaries between work outside and inside the household are blurred by digitalisation (which in the pandemic included remote schooling that puts an added burden on mothers in the working day). It is urgent for feminists to develop and advocate for an approach that protects women from the added burdens changes in the workplace may have on their lives and livelihoods.

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Unit 4.3: What does it mean to invest in the Feminist Economy?

This Is What A Feminist Economic Future Looks Like Women have been at the forefront of social movements to change an unjust economy, especially as the situation for women has deteriorated further since 2020 with the spread of the COVID pandemic and ensuing financial collapse in many countries. But what should women be fighting for? What does a feminist economic future look like? 1. AN ECONOMY THAT RECOGNISES AND REWARDS CARE LABOR A feminist economy means recognising care labour as work that is still unpaid or underpaid. As well as the huge pay gap between genders, addressing gender inequalities in terms of unpaid care and domestic work is crucial. Changes in the modern workplace may further add to the burden on women as the boundaries between work outside and inside the household are blurred by digitalisation (which in the pandemic included remote schooling that puts an added burden on mothers in the working day). It is urgent for feminists to develop and advocate for an approach that protects women from the added burdens changes in the workplace may have on their lives and livelihoods.

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Unit 4.3: What does it mean to invest in the Feminist Economy?

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2. MORE POWER FOR WOMEN WITHIN FAMILIES Much of the economic injustice against women lies in the gender power imbalance in families in rural areas particularly. A patriarchal social order can limit women’s economic independence and ability to make independent decisions when it comes to marriage, reproduction, education and careers, movement and travel, and care labor. Inheritance, custody, nationality and personal status laws all discriminate against women in many countries.3. FEMINIST HOUSING AND INFRASTRUCTUREOne of the rising crises is that of decent, safe and affordable housing. This question is a core feminist concern for three main reasons: - The gendered division of space means women spend more of their lives at home. Although the house is supposed to be a safe space for women, most gender-based violence happens there – and many women have no control over their housing, or access to safe housing. - The increased numbers of refugee women due to wars (see Ukraine war). Refugees are fleeing wars to neighbouring countries where they face discrimination and poor shelter conditions, with no access to safe and decent housing.A feminist approach to housing will advocate for shelter as a right rather than a commodity, and centre access to clean water, electricity and internet as basic rights. Lack of access to basic needs such as clean water, electricity or internet are putting disadvantaged groups in danger (for example, electricity in housing units is crucial for many people with a disability or for the elderly). Alongside a right to safe, decent and affordable housing, we will need feminist urban planning including the right to green spaces; community centres; communal/neighbourhood kitchens; and childcare and elderly support facilities.

Similarly, safe, efficient and affordable transportation, free from harassment, is a central feminist demand. Finally, as previously mentioned, access to high-speed and stable internet connection has become a necessity for many and will be an essential part of decent housing schemes. Having said that, a feminist future would also include eliminating gender-based violence so prevalent in internet spaces today.4. FREE AND EASY ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, ESPECIALLY SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES Giving women full control over their bodies and providing accessible health services is at the core of economically empowering women. Gender-based violence, rape and forced marriages, female genital mutilation, reduced mobility, discrimination/violence based on gender and sexual orientation, dress codes, family planning and contraception, and male domination over women’s reproductive choices all hugely impact women’s economic and social well-being. That’s why universal health coverage, and easy access to sexual and reproductive health services must be core feminist economic demands. The discrimination against women in the healthcare sector is even more acute in countries where the sector is highly privatised and tied to private insurance schemes that often overlook or do not cover medical procedures related to women’s health such as mammograms or smear tests. 5. MORE FEMINIST WOMEN MAKING POLITICAL DECISIONS More feminist women in positions of power and decision-making will not only benefit women and ensure attention to their needs but also benefit society as a whole with policies more geared towards justice and well-being, rather than privatisation and profit accumulation. The key to a feminist economy is not solving technical, economic questions, but in changing political priorities. A political will to address inequalities and advance more just and green societies, to transform labour relations and ownership laws, to expand welfare and social protection schemes, and to respect all lives as equally worthy is at the core of delivering feminist economic alternatives. “Humans over profit”, “green over greed” and “rights not privileges” will be our guiding mottos.

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MODULE 4: How to use Purple Economy in women’s lives

¡You have successfully completed Unit 4.3!