While most people concentrate on battling the global financial crisis, some feminist economists present a different interpretation of the efforts to cope with crisis, calling for more attention from the government and society to promote gender-equality even during such a testing period.

On May 27, the United Nations Theme Group on Gender (UNTGG) presented a panel discussion on "Gender and the Economic Crisis". The impact of the financial crisis on women, especially on Chinese women, was discussed, and some proposals were put forward.

Focus on female graduates and migrants

Due to social and cultural restraints and traditional division of labor, it is easy for women to lose a job, but hard for them to find a new one. The current crisis will further impact the global labor market, and the employment rate for women is expected to fall. As the income of many families decreases, more pressure will be exerted on women who are more likely to become victims of family conflict, such as domestic violence.

Liu Bohong, deputy director-general of the Women's Studies Institute of China

Liu Bohong, deputy director-general of the Women's Studies Institute of China, noted that Chinese women are not a homogenous group, and the impact of the global financial crisis will vary across different groups, with female migrants and college graduates severely hit. As to the reasons, Liu said that social gender stereotyping makes women responsible for both work and family, but the discriminative implications of institutional structures cause them more difficulties in finding jobs and developing their own careers. This is likely to shake their determination to pursue gender-equality and realize their own worth – some female graduates will even look for a "long-term meal ticket" through marriage.

The impact of the economic crisis on young female migrants can be observed in the "Findings from ILO/ACWF research in Hunan and Fujian Provinces" presented by Max Tunon, consultant to the International Labor Organization (ILO). He pointed out that in documents related to the employment situation of migrant workers issued by the government, information on their gender and age is "sorely lacking." A shocking fact in his survey is that 74 percent of young female migrants had received no training prior to migration, resulting in a lack of skills become the main obstacle to their employment prospects.

Max Tunon, consultant to the International Labor Organization (ILO)

If professional training is essential for female migrants, a mindset adjustment is crucial for female graduates. Downsizing of many companies makes it harder for female graduates to find quality jobs and fulfill their "great expectations". In order to get a job, they have to lower expectations and seek other pathways of developing their careers. Of course, the government should provide guidance and necessary credit support to help them start their own businesses. Xiao Shuqiao, a researcher from the Institute of Social Development & Public Policy of Beijing Normal University, told China.org.cn that as well as psychological preparation for a harsh employment outlook, female graduates should also make every effort to find a job or start a career in which they can apply their knowledge and skills, thus avoiding the waste of intellectual resources.

Stimulus package targeted

The Chinese government announced a stimulus package in November 2008 to spend 4 trillion yuan (588 billion US dollars) by the end of 2010 to cope with the economic downturn. But some of the speakers argued that the stimulus package addresses little attention to women's employment and living conditions. Most of the money is set to be invested in infrastructure construction, which will absorb many male migrants and male college graduates in accordance with the traditional labor division. It is worth reflecting that the stimulus package should also cover fields which traditionally can absorb more female labor, such as the health and care industries.