Have you ever heard of feminist economics? Do you know its origins and basic principles? And what changes in society it seeks to bring about?
The term “feminist economics” is not widely known, yet it is very interesting to explore this perspective in more depth. You might be surprised at all the positive effects it can have if we include the women’s perspective in the economic analysis.
We therefore cordially invite you to our e-learning platform to learn more about feminist economics. In a special module dedicated to the basics of feminist economics you will find more information on:
- Origins of feminist economics and important thought-leaders
- Comparison of the neoclassical and feminist paradigms
- Principles of feminist economics
- Gender-based economic inequalities in data
Some of the fundamental issues addressed by feminist economics include the topic of unpaid domestic work and care. This is usually unpaid and is not given economic value by traditional economics. At the same time, this care is traditionally associated with women, who may even be prevented from accessing the labour market on equal terms.
Feminist economics thus shows that many perspectives and topics have been neglected in traditional economics. These include, in addition to the economics of care and unpaid work, the gender pay gap, unequal inheritance rights, the glass ceiling, etc. All these inequalities have a gender basis. It is therefore important to understand the consequences that flow from gender inequalities. These consequences include, for example, the following facts:
- Men tend to earn more than women worldwide.
- Women are often under-represented in senior positions in companies.
- Women are often over-represented in low-paid positions.
- Women are less likely to own land and control productive assets.
- Women often have limited control over household resources.
- Gender-based inheritance systems are not adopted in all countries.
- Overall, gender inequalities have narrowed significantly over the last century, yet they are still persisting.
These facts are based on data that are compared on a global scale. You will learn more about this issue in depth in our e-learning module, which will help you understand the issue in a broader context. The module also includes interactive exercises to support your understanding. And for adult educators, we also have methodological materials.
Feminist economics has introduced new questions and variables into economic research, which undoubtedly contributes to the diversification of economic discourse. It plays an important role in rethinking the way we understand economics and the driving forces behind it.
by AVITEUM‘s team
