Observatoire Français des Conjonctures EconomiquesCentre de recherche en économie à Sciences Po

Women’s precarity and poverty Women’s precarity and poverty in France and in Europein France and in Europe

Françoise Milewski

Economist

OFCE, French Economic Observatory, Economic Research Center of Sciences Po, Paris, France

PRESAGE, Research and Academic Program on Gender Thinking, Sciences Po, Paris, France

Social Work and Social Development 2012:

Action and ImpactStockholm, 8-12 July 2012

2

The precarity of women was long hidden from view.

But the economic and social changes,

now make it essential to consider this issue.

Precarity has two faces:

instability, career breaks, the fragility and difficulty of labour market integration and reintegration ,

are essential for defining precarity in a conventional sense.

But it is also crucial to consider stability in underemployment, particularly part-time work,

which is much more frequent for women than for men.

3

1.1.The characteristics of jobs held by womenThe characteristics of jobs held by women

1.1. Unstable jobs…1.1. Unstable jobs…

1.2. … and stable underemployment1.2. … and stable underemployment

2. The effects of the economic crisis2. The effects of the economic crisis

2.1. Unemployment rates: women and men2.1. Unemployment rates: women and men

2.2. Strengthening of precarious employment2.2. Strengthening of precarious employment

2.3. Lasting effects of the crisis2.3. Lasting effects of the crisis

3. Income inequality3. Income inequality

3.1. Wage inequality3.1. Wage inequality

3.2. Pensions 3.2. Pensions

4. Changing family structures4. Changing family structures

5. Public policies: compensation, at best5. Public policies: compensation, at best

4

Inequalities between the sexes are not like other inequalities:

they are linked to a number of factors,

which fall within the private and occupational spheres,

current institutional arrangements,

social welfare systems,

representations and stereotypes.

This analysis has important consequences for public policies intended to combat inequality and ensure greater social justice.