In the context of the WIDE+ series: “COVID19 and care: feminist reflections on a new normal”, this online webinar reflects on the unequal recognition and undervaluation of care that has aggravated multi-layered gender inequalities and contributed to the massive gender impact of the pandemic.
Almost one year after the first lockdown measures were put in place in Europe, the similarities and differences among government responses to the crisis have been assessed and conclusions can be drawn from its impact on the care economy. Feminists have formulated alternative recovery responses based on the assertion that the care economy must be a key element in economic and social policies for recovery. The post-pandemic “new normal”, from a feminist point of view, thus cannot mean any return to austerity and the financialization and privatization of care.
Speakers:
- Sara Cantillon
Cantillon is a Professor of Economics and Gender at the GCU Glasgow School of Business and Society and Director of the WiSE Centre for Economic Justice. Previously, she was Head of School of Social Justice and Director of the Equality Studies Centre in University College Dublin. She has extensive research and policy experience, both nationally and internationally having worked as an Economic Advisor to the Department of the Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), in the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI). Her main areas of research are equality, poverty, care, gender and intrahousehold distribution.
- Ulla Björnberg
Björnberg is a Professor emeritus at the department of sociology and work science, Gothenburg University. Her research areas are on family, in relation to policy/welfare & work, gender, intergenerational relationships and asylum-seeking children & families. She has also been engaged in several cross-national projects on family policy and family life in Europe and the Nordic countries and recently finalised a study on social organisations among immigrant women. In this webinar she will present the the GADIP study: “The Gendered effects of Covid-19 and Challenges Facing the Women-dominated Health Workforce”. Björnberg will be supported by Malva Staaf, Master’s student in Gender Studies at the University of Gothenburg, feminist activist and a member of GADIP.
- Elisabeth Klatzer
Klatzer has more than 20 years of experience working in research, advocacy and consultancy in the field of Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB), Public Finance Management as well as gender and economic policy. She is one of the authors of the study initiated by the Greens in the European Parliament: “#nextGenerationEU Leaves Women Behind; Gender Impact Assessment of the European Commission Proposals for the EU Recovery Plan”. She is also part of the group Femme Fiscale who initiated a feminist stimulus package in Austria as proposal to respond to COVID19.
This webinar is moderated by Silke Steinhilber, research and evaluation consultant and trainer capacity development for gender equality, globally and across Eastern Europe.
About the Webinar Series: “COVID19 and care: Feminist reflections on a New normal”, 5.00-6.30 PM CET, Wednesday 24 February, 3 and 10 March 2021
The COVID19 pandemic has highlighted one of the main tenets of feminist economics, namely the central place of care for societal and economic wellbeing. This webinar series addresses the gendered impact of the pandemic and recovery measures on the unpaid & paid care, global care chains and women’s rights including sexual and reproductive rights.