Seminar Beyond Austerity, Towards Employment: A Gender Aware Framework

FEPS, in collaboration with TASC, ECLM, the Open University and the School of Oriental and African Studies, organises a roundtable discussion in Brussels with the objective to discuss the changing position and role of both women and men in the labour market in Europe, considering whether or not recent austerity policies have had particularly gendered effects and where the roots of such gendered impacts lie. Further, the roundtable discussion will debate how to create the conditions for a gender-equitable and expansionary macroeconomic framework in Europe. A macroeconomic framework where equitable growth, creating quality jobs, increased living standards, and macroeconomic stability are at the core.

Current austerity policies could undermine past achievements towards gender equality, as they can negatively impact upon employment and social welfare protection. In particular, these policies could reverse the progress made in the last decade in establishing a fulfilling life for women and men.

Although in several European countries male unemployment has significantly increased as a result of job losses in male-dominated sectors such as the construction and the financial sectors, it is becoming increasingly evident that women are also going to be severely harmed by the implementation of austerity policies and by the credit squeeze. Indeed, women’s work in Europe in concentrated in those areas more affected by spending cuts, such as education, health and social services.

The discussion will address the following questions:

1)      What are the effects of austerity policies on men and women?

2)      What are the characteristic of a progressive and gender-equitable macroeconomic framework for Europe?

PROGRAMME

TUESDAY 11th FEBRUARY 2014

10:00 Session 1: Austerity policies and their gendered effects

14:15 Session 2: Towards a gender-equitable macroeconomic framework for Europe

WEDNESDAY 12th FEBRUARY 2014

10:00 Session 3: Alternative and gender-aware economic policies using micro and macro models

Speakers include, Professor Maria Karamessini, Panteion University Athens, Gloria Mills, UNISON, Professor Özlem Onaran, University of Greenwich, Professor Diane Elson, University of Essex, Professor Paola Villa, University of Trento, Catherine Trautmann, MEP S&D Group, Zita Gurmai, MEP S&D Group and Enrique Guerrero Salom, MEP S&D Group.

Please find the full programme on the top of this page.

REGISTRATION

To register for this seminar please send an email stating your first name, surname, position and organisation to Ischi Graus at ischi.graus@feps-europe.eu.