An Invisible Crisis? (2010)

March 1, 2010

Oxfam LEF women in recession an invisible crisis March2010 final In October 2009, Oxfam and the European Women’s Lobby (EWL) commissioned research to explore and analyse the hidden impact of the current economic recession on women’s poverty in EU countries. The research was conducted with EWL member organisations, and supplemented with other research and information available at the end of 2009. Oxfam and EWL conclude that the research gives a snapshot of the current position of women in poverty, reinforcing what is already known about the persistent social exclusion experienced by many women. It also provides some evidence that the impact of recession is making the inequality faced by women even worse. It is difficult to separate out evidence of women’s longterm poverty from the effect of the current recession – and further research is needed in this area. But the evidence here clearly indicates that the recession is already having a significant negative effect on the lives of women, not only in relation to the labour market, but also, crucially, outside it. However, the impact of the recession – direct and indirect – on women remains largely invisible, and further in-depth analysis is urgently required. This report documents evidence of: precarious working conditions; increasing discrimination in the labour market with a subsequent shift to informal work; rising levels of poverty; reduced access to services; and rising levels of domestic violence, accompanied by cuts in vital support services.

Attached documents

Oxfam LEF women in recession an invisible crisis March2010 final