WOMEN AND ECONOMICS

Women and Economics

Abstract

The main objective of this paper is to present a more realistic picture of women's contribution in the economic and domestic spheres of society by determining the level of different types of work done by women and time spent doing it, and imputing a monetary value of the time spent by women in domestic and care work activities. The issues of women's participation in economic life and sexual equality have been approached initially through the concepts of contribution and integration, which ultimately lead on to the all-embracing concept of participation. The paper analyzes the issue of women's integration into the official economy that raises more basic questions about women's adaptation to the demands of the male world.

Table of Contents

Abstract2

Introduction4

Discussion and Analysis5

A brief overview of some of the facts of economic inequality is in order8

Women's access to economic life and advancement in work careers9

The ILO in relation to Women's Economic Rights and Opportunities9

Institutions involved in promoting women in economic life10

Fair play for women10

Independent Women's Forum (IWF)10

WICED and the role of UK Government11

Conclusion13

References14

Women in the Economic Life

Introduction

In several cultures, it is believed that women's primary functions are reproductive, domestic, and care work (such as housework, cooking, and caring for children, the elderly, and the sick), while men are the main breadwinners. This leads to an incomplete picture of women's real contribution to economic life, where women's unpaid work (especially domestic and care work) is most often being devalued and ignored in various indicators such as GDP. This underestimates women's role in the work field. Proper valuation of unpaid work would show that women should also be considered as main breadwinners if the number of hours worked rather than the money earned is considered. The process of globalization brings with it not only new opportunities for economic growth and employment, but challenges and problems such as displacement and elimination of jobs in the background of increasing pressure, and intensity of work in connection with increasing global competition are increasing constantly. In order to take advantage of emerging opportunities of global markets, women should be part of trade and investment flows of the global economy. The increase in the proportion of women in the workforce has been one of the most notable trends, current labor market in recent years. In the past, there have never been such a large number of economically active women. The worldwide number of female labor force (employed and unemployed women) reached in 2003, 1.2 billion, compared with one billion in 1993. Against this background, the process of economic activity of men in many regions of the world declined. As a result of which the gender gap in terms of their economic activity was significantly reduced. However, this did not lead to a complete bridge gender inequality in any region of the world (Bergmann, 2005).

Discussion and Analysis

Women first started to express themselves and their wishes in the second half of the 19th Century and obtained various rights in line with their desires by becoming organized with the ...