Gender Resilience in Times of Economic Crisis: Findings from Greece

Abstract

The aim of this article is to examine and compare the perceptions and effects of the economic crisis on Greek women and men, as well as their resilience actions. Specifically, in this paper, we compare men's and women's perceptions of the economic crisis; secondly, in order to determine the extent of its effect on gender, we consider employment as a key variable, and investigate if and how employment differentiation leads to inequalities between men and women and among women themselves. Finally, we investigate gender resilience to adversity (actions) at both the personal (e.g., everyday behaviour), and the organisational level (e.g. membership in organisations and political participation). Based on data derived from the LIVEWHAT project, the results demonstrate that both men and women have been affected by the economic crisis and have sustained significant losses. Nevertheless, our data show that, among women, it is those in the lower occupational categories who have withstood more severe losses in employment and working conditions. Resilient to adversities, both men and women, albeit in different ways, adjust, accommodate and resist hardships through personal actions, networking and political actions. Our study finally points to the need for the inclusion of gender in any analysis of the impact of crises, as well as in the methods, ways and resources mobilised for resilience.

Keywords

• economic crisis
• gender effects
• gender perceptions
• political actions
• resilience