Women's economic independence and austerity measures: Economy #Beijing20 & EWL

One of the strategic objectives of the Beijing Platform for Action ’95 is ‘Promote women’s economic rights and independence …’ Women and the economy is one of the interdependent 12 critical areas of concern in this Platform for Action.
After 20 years the gender pay gap remains a major issue within the EU as women workers on average earn 16% less than men. A worrying development is the widening gender pension pay gap which stand at 39% within the EU. The gender pension gap shows that gender inequalities accumulate throughout women’s lives and that a life-cycle approach to women’s economic independence is urgently needed.

Women’s economic independence is the foundation of all rights. EWL’s key demands to the European Union and the Member States are a.o.

- Guarantee the individualization of social security and taxation rights in order to break women’s dependency on their partners and/or the State;

- Close the gender pay gap by 2020 and set targets to close the pension gap;

- Use Gender Budgeting as a standard methodology of all public budget processes;

Austerity measures
Austerity measures have a huge effect on women, both as workers in the public sector and users of public services. Moreover, women bear a disproportionate share of tax burdens, as they use larger portions of their income on food and basis goods for the household. Did you see the European Women’s Lobby (EWL) video-clip “A she-(re)cession. What does austerity mean for women in Europe?”? (2013) Note 1

The EWL publication (January 2015) Women's Economic Independence in Times of Austerity (Note 3) is using a gender equality and feminist lens in Country Profiles of Scotland, Slovenia, Sweden (Gender Budgeting), Greece and Italy (Social Enterprises). Social entrepreneurship can be a promising avenue through which women can empower themselves and others.

Joanna Manganara, Board Member since 2004 and President since 2013 of International Alliance of Women, is telling the story of Greece in an interview. Quote "It is also important ... to see women ... as actors of change in political decision-making." 

Let's take action and bring words into reality

How can we get to a feminist economic model? 
By a.o. Democratise the EU semester process through the participation of the EP and women's organisations.

From Words to Action
Will you read & share EWL’s factsheet about Women and the Economy?
Please get involved! Note 3

Note 1 

EWL clip ‘A she-(re)cession What does austerity mean to women in Europe?' https:/www.youtube.com/watch?v=euIp9VdKzFk
Note 2 
EWL publication Women's Economic Independence in Times of Austerity January 2015

Note 3 
EWL 'From Words to Action' 2015 Calendar and Factsheet at
http://www.womenlobby.org/news/ewl-news/article/ewl-beijing-20-in-january-women-s?lang=en 
Note 4 
This blog is follow-up Action as written in blog 'Connecting feminists by social media'. Do you want to help IAW and EWL at Facebook and Twitter to share information and spreading knowledge? How you can help is described in this blog 'Connecting ...' 

Blogger Arina Angerman
is representing International Alliance of Women (IAW) in the Policy Committee of the European Women's Lobby (EWL). She is a consultant in how to use social media as a board member, entrepreneur or manager: Social Media 4 (Baby) Boomers