The Global Economic Crisis and Gender Relations: The Greek Case By Lois Woestman 2010 Edition About the Author: Lois Woestman, US born feminist researcher, has lived and worked in Mexico, Ethiopia, France, , the Netherlands – and since 2002, in . She received her MA in development economics from the Institute for Social Stud- ies in the Netherlands, and her PhD in anthropology from the New School for Social Research in New York City. Ms. Woestman has elaborated feminist analyses of development, postsocialist – and intra EU – neoliberal “tran- sitions”, focusing on World Bank, IMF and EU development policies. She has also worked on issues of gender and property in postsocialist Africa, gender responsive budgeting, and alternative economics.

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The Global Economic Crisis and Gender Relations: The Greek Case By Lois Woestman 2010 Edition

Mexico was the first developing the first country on the country to default on its foreign brink of defaulting on its foreign debt in 1982, and the first to im- debts. There is much confusion, plement a structural adjustment anger and fear among the Greek programme to deal with the crisis. population over the succeeding In the wake of the default, it was harsh structural adjustment mea- chaotic in the lower middle-class sures the socialist government 3 neighborhood where my host is implementing. This includes family lived. Men were losing their the -International jobs because they could not afford Monetary Fund (EU-IMF)-bro- to pay the bus fare to get to work, kered “bail-out” that would pur- since subsidies had been cut and portedly preclude Greece from inflation was driving up the price declaring bankruptcy and put the of the bus tickets. My host economy back on its feet. and the women in the neighbour- hood were worried about feeding The Greek case demonstrates their families, as even tortillas (the clearly that neoliberalism has staple bread) were becoming ex- come home to roost in the euro- pensive. The women were whis- zone, causing growing class, gen- pering in apprehension among der and north-south rifts within it. themselves, tiptoeing around their houses, in fear of their husbands Background who were starting to beat them more frequently. Until recently, the Greek social- ist and conservative governments Everywhere, everyone was ask- have resisted introducing struc- ing: What is going on? Why is our tural adjustment measures simi- Government doing this? Why are lar to those that other eurozone foreign governments and power- countries have implemented over ful global organizations pressur- the past decade. This has been ing our Government to do what partly on philosophical grounds they want? What about the politi- and partly because they knew cians and the rich people? They such measures would cost them are still driving around in their “li- the next election. mos”, just with more bodyguards. In the lead-up to the October 2009 It is déjà vu for me in , my Greek national elections, it was second home, in 2010. Greece is clear that Greece’s 250 billion The Global Economic Crisis and Gender Relations: The Greek Case. Woestman, AWID

euro economy was on the cusp ing financial speculators, EU eu- of recession, and the Government rozone counterparts, and the IMF. had a serious budget problem. Under pressure from the latter Greece was to have incurred the two, the Pasok Government has second largest budget deficit as reversed tack, reneging on its pre- a percentage of GDP in the entire electoral promises. The measures eurozone – or so we were led to it has introduced encapsulate, and believe by the New Democracy even go beyond, the structural ad- Government then in power. (Later justments implemented in other on, the new Government would eurozone countries. Within a few declare that Greece actually had months, Greece changed from a the highest budget deficit.) The “regular” indebted southern Euro- IMF predicted our public debt pean country – one of the “PIGS” would swell to 6 percent of GDP (, , Greece and ) in end of 2009, well above the 3 – to a guinea pig for the first EU- % EU cap for eurozone members. IMF brokered structural adjust- ment programme imposed on a The New Democracy regime re- eurozone country. sponded by bailing out banks with a 28 billion euro liquidity package, The crisis and the EU-IMF bail-out but also called for privatizations, are heightening class inequalities freezing of public sector salaries, and social unrest in Greece. They pension and new hiring, and one- are aggravating many gender in- off taxes on high earners. The equalities and causing a crisis in socialist Pasok party proposed in- the unpaid “care economy”. They jecting money into the economy to also highlight a growing intra-eu- stabilize it and kick-start growth, rozone north-south divide. North- increase social spending to miti- ern eurozone countries that are 4 gate the effects of the crisis on counterbalancing recessionary those with low incomes, crack measures with economic stimu- down on tax evasion, and enhance lus packages, and whose banks government transparency1. Pasok are among those profiting the won by a landslide. most from the Greek debt crisis are also pressuring Portugal, Italy, At the European level, succes- and Spain to undertake further re- sive Greek governments, joining cessionary structural adjustment their European counterparts, had measures. These countries are also been resisting structural doing so to avoid having to resort adjustment, calling for retention to a harsh “rescue” package, like of the European welfare state. the one in Greece. These governments resisted such changes in part, however, by pro- The Greek population is resisting. viding inaccurate economic and There have been trade union-led financial statistics to the national general strikes and protests on and international community. the streets of Athens against the new wave of structural adjust- One of the first things that the Pa- ment measures. These large pro- sok Government did upon taking tests are colorful and loud, and in power last fall was to disclose re- one case, ended in violence. But vised statistics, including that our while there are placards show- budget deficit was already at 12.5 ing, for instance, Greek and im- percent of the GDP, the highest in migrant workers’ solidarity, there the eurozone. This announcement is, as usual, no placard espousing set off a series of events involv- women’s rights or causes.

Footnotes

1 - Athens News 14.9.2009. The Global Economic Crisis and Gender Relations: The Greek Case. Woestman, AWID

Causes of the Greek crisis

As other countries that have un- zone became the alternative source dertaken structural adjustment of enrichment for those feeding off “Much of this mess is our programs, Greece’s economic state coffers. The result is a moun- own fault and we should get and financial woes are a result of tain of debt and a stumbling Greek ourselves out of it…. Those home-grown dynamics embedded economy4. The mounting economic who caused the problem in and fostered by an unsustain- and financial crises were covered should pay for it. All our gov- able neoliberal global economic up by successive creative statistics ernments … use the money and financial system largely be- issued by the Government. for their own private use, or yond the country’s control. to buy votes. It has been get- The Greek Government taxes ting increasingly worse, to Home-grown causes middle- and lower-income people the point where there is little more than the wealthy. Wealthy left for the rest of us. They Pasok Prime Minister George groups, such as ship owners, op- let their supporters — those Papanderou has “sold” the suc- erate tax-free5. Angry at this un- doctors and lawyers and TV ceeding harsh versions of our equal treatment, many people pay stars with big houses and Stability and Growth Programme less taxes than they owe. Partly pools and expen- to the Greek public as measures due to low incomes, and partly tax sive cars — get away with- needed to redress long-standing evasion, 65 percent of the popula- out paying taxes. They cur- structural problems2. Most of the tion declare less than 12,000 eu- ry-favour by doling out pub- population agree with the need to ros as income per year6. The most lic sector jobs in exchange address the problems, but not the culpable tax evaders, however, are for votes and they falsify the measures taken to do so. those hard-to-trace, well-connect- books to cover all this up. Is 5 ed, high-income earners mentioned it any wonder that we do not For decades now, Greece has had a by Georgia, a civil servant (see box) trust them?” said Georgia, a modest productive sector since co- who easily earn in a day what public civil servant (Interview with herent strategies to foster industry, servants earn in a month, but often author, June 2010). agriculture, tourism and expatriot declare the same amount of earn- remittances have not been devel- ings. A massive 95 percent of tax- oped. The economy declined due payers declare an annual income of to the effects of the international less than EUR 30, 000. economic crisis in 2009. Enter speculators, This economic malaise has been combined with incompetent and EU Governments, corrupt political elites who have and the IMF treated the state as if it were the of a small group Pasok’s disclosure of the revised of politicians, bureaucrats, me- statistics opened Greece to attack dia barons and their families3. The by speculators who saw the coun- public sector has been badly man- try as the weak link in the eurozone. aged and is plagued by corruption. They profited from the uncertainty Bribes are expected to be paid to of the Greek financial situation. The get the work done. Votes have disclosure also exposed Greece to been bought with public sector pressures from the EU and the IMF, jobs. Government offices and pen- which are aimed at whittling away at Footnotes sions funds have overspent bud- the welfare state system that many gets. While the Greek Government parts of Europe have already been 2 - Gilson Athens News, 3.5.2010, Issue 13388. has long borrowed from European dismantling over the past decades. 3 - Gilson/Green/Yiannopoulos Athens countries, the dwindling revenues As evident in Figure 1, the actions of News,19.4.2010, Issue 13386. from export, tourism and expat re- the speculators and the EU and IMF 4 - Ibid 5 - Kafetzi, S. (31.5.2010) “The Exemp- mittances were supplanted by the interventions have brought Greece tions of shipowners”, Kykladesnews.gr. European convergence funds. Re- to accept increasingly harsh auster- 6 - Green Athens News, 26.12.2009, Issue 13370. cently, cheap loans from the euro- ity measures in rapid succession. The Global Economic Crisis and Gender Relations: The Greek Case. Woestman, AWID

Figure 1: Timeline: November 2009 - June 2010

Greek government Speculators EU / IMF Greek civil sociey

Nov 10 European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs suggests raising sanctions of EU disciplinary excessive deficit procedure against Greece.

Dec 2 Eurogroup vote of confidence in Greece economy/fiscal management to ease speculation against Greek bonds but demands further austerity measures.

Dec 8/9 Speculators push cost of debt upwards: Greek state pays higher rates of return on bonds it sells to pay debts, and cost of insuring debt against default/restructuring rises.

Dec 22 Moody’s Investors Services downgrades Greece’s credit rating. Jan 14-20 Stability programme unveiled to cut budget gap to 2.8% of GDP in 2012. “Speculators react positively, government bond issue oversubscribed — but government pays hefty premium.

Jan 18 Intra-EU differences: Spain supportive, France neutral, Deutche Bank representative’s com- ments on potential bankruptcy fuel higher debt costs. Speculation causes price of Greek debt to rise further.

Feb 2 New austerity package: New tax on petrol, 10% budget cut in ministries, freeze on public sector wages & hiring — including those making below 2,000/mo and Ministries of Health and Education; 10% cut in civil servant wage supplements.

6 Feb 3 EC backs Greece’s plan, but urges more austerity – including overall wage bill cut. Feb 10 Public sector strike and demonstrations Feb 11 Eurozone finance ministers agree on mechanism to help Greece – but no details. Call for more austerity measures.

Feb 12 New tax measures introduced to collect additional EUR5 billion in 2010. Mar 3 New public sector pay cuts, & tax increases, totalling EUR4.8 billion: VAT raised to 21%; civil servant wage supplements cut 30%; increase in fuel, tobacco, alcohol taxes; pension freeze.

Mar 11/6 General public and private sector workers strikes and demonstrations. Mar 25 Greek “contagion” hits euro, EU-IMF financial safety net agreed – not activated. Apr 21 Investors downgrade Greek debt, drive prices to record highs, based on suspicions EU-IMF funds will not come in time to avoid default.

Apr 23 Activation of EU/IMF aid package. EUR110 billion: EUR80 billion from EU countries, EUR30 billion from IMF.

Apr 27 Despite EU-IMF package activation, debt servicing costs soar to all-time high. May 2 More budget cuts of 30 billion over three years announced. May 4-5 Public-private workers strike on eve of signing of EU-IMF austerity programme. June Pension law changes: Retirement age of 65 years for women and men. Pension amounts decreased. Government finalizing privatization programme.

End June Speculators keep Greek debt costs high with rumors that Greece may restructure its debt / revert to drachma. The Global Economic Crisis and Gender Relations: The Greek Case. Woestman, AWID

Recession with Greek workers are wondering which had been part of the entitle- no way out how they are to be competitive ments of living and working in Eu- when tax hikes are raising the rope. “And who are we supposed cost of living. “Europeans say our to be competing with anyway? Ul- As a result of the austerity mea- tourism is expensive compared to timately, they want us to compete sures being introduced, the Greek others in the region; and they are with the Chinese, with countries economy is entering a planned right, it’s due to our rising cost of which have no labor protection”, recession. Government statistics living, due to all the tax hikes, not said one protester (Interview with predict that the GDP will contract due to our incomes”, commented author, June 2010). by three to four percent this year, Yiannis, a teacher (Interview with while other sources suggest it is author, June 2010). Centre-right newspaper Elefthe- closer to six percent. In 2011, the ros Typos claimed that the Gov- GDP is projected to contract fur- People are aware that “com- ernment was telling the Greek ther, albeit by a small amount. petitiveness” is being used as a people that they must die in order Growth forecast for 2012 is based code word for taking away decent to live, and it also described the on enhanced competitiveness due working standards and wages, Government’s economic medicine to lower labour and debt-servic- and unemployment protection that as being “more harmful than the ing costs7. they have worked hard to win, disease”8.

Effects on the Greek population

The crisis and the EU-IMF bailout Unemployment, part- rising by only about half that of are heightening class inequali- time and temporary women’s10. Within this rising un- 7 ties and social unrest in Greece. employment, permanent employ- They are aggravating many gen- work on the rise ment, primarily “men’s jobs” in der inequalities and are caus- construction and manufacturing, ing a crisis in the unpaid “care In 2008 and 2009, even before was hit hard. Also hit were the economy”. the 2010 austerity measures ag- jobs of family business assis- gravated it, unemployment was tants11 who are primarily women While there has been much dis- already increasing in Greece due and immigrants. cussion about the class dynam- to the economic crisis. The GDP ics of these processes, little has started to be in the negative in Men, however, have benefited been said about their gender 2009. Between 2008 and 2009, disproportionately from gov- dynamics. This is due to a lack for the first time since 1991, pri- ernment employment support of gender awareness and inter- vate sector unemployment in- measures. Prior to austerity est of the majority of , creased by about two percent; measures in 2009, the govern- both in and outside the govern- equivalent to over 50,000 people ment pumped some money into ment, and also due to a lack of in a workforce of approximately construction and tourism, some gender-specific statistics for 4.5 million and a population of 11 of the sectors hardest hit by the those wishing to address gender million. Greek unemployment hit crisis. Construction is male- issues. The main tools for gender a five-year high of 10.6 percent dominated and tourism has a mainstreaming (gender impact in November 2009, and is climb- higher share of male than female assessments, gender-sensitive ing and approaching 12 percent employees. However, govern- budgeting) are underdeveloped this year. 9 and underutilized . Filling the Footnotes data gap is a sine qua non for un- Between 2008 and 2009, the derstanding the gendered effects female unemployment rate rose 7 - Ibid 3 8 - Thomson Reuters, 3.5.2010 of the economic and financial by around 1.7 percent, especially 9 - Karamaessini (2009) National Expert As- crises, and understanding and for women between 35 and 44 sessment of the Gender Perspective in the 2009 redesigning measures adopted years of age (2 %) and followed National Reform Programme for Employment, EGGE Work Programme document: 15 to address them. Some general by women aged 25 to 34 (1.5 %). 10 - Ibid: 3 trends on the gender as well as This led to a reversal of a long- 11 - Lampousaki, S. (2010) Effects of economic crisis on labor market, Labor Institute of Greek class impacts of the crisis are term trend towards closing the General Confederation of Labor (INE/GSEE) identified here. gender gap in employment. How- ever, men’s unemployment was The Global Economic Crisis and Gender Relations: The Greek Case. Woestman, AWID

ment employment support mea- ployment was also on the rise. sures overlooked the equally “I had no choice but to go to Public sector job hard-hit female-dominated re- work as a freelancer, as even cuts hit women tail sector12. public institutions such as uni- versities, where I work, stopped hardest During the same year, while hiring permanent staff over two permanent employment de- years ago,” commented Vas- The most recent hiring freez- creased, temporary employ- siliki, a researcher (Interview es in the public sector are in ment increased by around 4 %. with author, June 2010). Self- the health and education sec- Part-time employment for men employed persons with staff, tors, believed to be tradition- increased by 25 %, whereas for mostly men, rose by 1.4 percent, ally “women’s” jobs. These women, just under 20 %. De- whereas the higher number of freezes have shut out women spite the rise in men’s part-time self-employed people without from areas of employment employment, women constitute staff, mostly women, increased and exacerbate a care crisis, three-quarters of all part-time by 1.2 percent14. as discussed in the pension employees with low salaries section below.18 Cutting pub- and limited social benefits.13 Private sector unemployment lic sector jobs also means a “How are we supposed to is increasing in tandem with reduction in the number of make ends meet on 400 euros austerity measures. In 2009, persons with greater social a month [half of the basic sal- while the Government provided protection, including unem- ary]?” asked Fotini, a part-time some support to firms for easy ployment benefits and gener- female employee (Interview access to credit,15 Greece’s ous maternity leaves, which with author, June 2010). 910,000 companies are now women employees in the experiencing a severe lack of private sector do not enjoy.19 Due to unemployment and em- liquidity. If banks do not loan at “I am against cuts in mater- ployers’ preference to hire low rates, more private sector nity leave in principle,” com- freelancers for whom they pay jobs will go.16 “How can we cre- mented Sophia, who works in no social insurance, self-em- ate jobs if we have no money to the private sector, “although 8 pay our staff, much less expand I wish I had had such an op- our business?” asked Yiannis, tion.” (Interview with author, Footnotes an Athens businessman (Inter- June 2010). view with author, June 2010).

Between 2008 and 2009, pub- families often provided informal 13 - Lampousaki, S. (2010) Effects of lic sector unemployment rose “social security” for the unem- economic crisis on labor market, Labor Institute of Greek General Confederation for the first time, but by a small ployed youth. However, cuts in of Labor (INE/GSEE) amount of 1.63 %, correspond- pensions mean that the amount 14 - Ibid ing to 16,689 people.17 As a re- of such family support will be 15 - Ibid 12 16 - Green Athens News,14.4.2010. sult of the austerity measures, greatly reduced. 17 -Ibid 13 many are taking early retire- 18 - Ibid 16 19 - Lyberaki/Platon,11.4.2010, ELIAMEP ment but no replacement staff Return to traditional blog. are being hired. 20 - Gilson Athens News, 29.3.2010, Issue family values 13383. 21 - Karamaessini (2009) National Expert Youth unemployment is also Ermioni, a Greek psychologist/ Assessment of the Gender Perspective in growing, and is predicted to analyst, suggests that one of the the 2009 National Reform Programme for Employment, ECCE Work Programme rise to 28 percent by the end effects of the dismal prospects document: 8. of 2010. With the newly intro- for young adults to have mean- 22 - In Greece, women take home about three-quarters what men earn at the duced minimum requirement of ingful careers is a likely return same job. Reports published by the Sta- 40 years of paid employment to traditional “family values”: tistical Office of the EU (Eurostar) show for full pension, youth are de- “If young women in particular that the greatest pay inequalities are found in the higher-income groups, the spairing of ever seeing a pen- feel they have little chance of older age groups and among the highest sion20. a meaningful career, they may educated; women are paid less than men for same jobs. decide to forfeit it entirely, and Lybarkis/Triton, 11.4.2010, ELIAMEP blog, We are the 700 generation”, focus on those things that have Tsilivakis Athens News, Issue xxx commented one young pro- most meaning and value, which 23 - Thomson Reuters, 3.5.2010. 24 - Ibid. tester. “We will be paid 700 in the Greek context would likely 25 - Mercer/http://livingingreece. euros per month, with no pen- mean focusing solely on a role as gr/2009/07/07/cost-of-living-greece-2/ 26 - Ibid 16 sions in sight.” (Interview with mother and homemaker.” (Inter- author, June 2010). In the past, view with author, June 2010). The Global Economic Crisis and Gender Relations: The Greek Case. Woestman, AWID

Wage cuts centage of women’s disposable Rising poverty income than men’s. Public sector incomes were cut The cumulative effect of these first, followed by wage cuts in In general, in contrast to media austerity measures has been to the private sector. The private reports, the Greek public sector exacerbate poverty in a country sector gender-based wage gap wages were already low prior to which, already prior to the eco- is approximately 20 percent21, the recent cuts. nomic crisis, had greater poverty while the gender gap in wages than the rest of the Eurozone is smaller, but still exists, in the Increasing taxes and countries. In 2007, before the public sector22. As a result of global economic crisis started this gender gap in wages, income cost of living to pound Greece, 20 percent of cuts will constitute a larger per- To get an idea of how far this the population were already liv- money stretches, it is important ing in poverty, compared to 17 to know that before the financial percent across Europe. Half of Wage cut impacts crisis, the cost of living in Athens family households had difficulty was already higher than in Amster- meeting basic needs. Due to As Despina Spanou, a member dam or Berlin25. For example, rent lower salaries and pensions, and of the board of the ADEDY, the (without utilities) for a small two part-time/sporadic employment, main civil servants’ union rep- bedroom apartment in a “regular”, women were more vulnerable to resenting about half a million lower-middle class Athens neigh- the crisis than the men; 21 per- public sector employees, said: bourhood costs at least 400 eu- cent of them were already living “The Government does not real- ros – a third of a public servant’s in poverty compared to 18 per- ize how little people are paid.”23 income, or half the minimum wage. cent of the men. Elderly people “I have five children. I work all An extremely careful food budget were also most likely to be poor, day, and I make 1,020 euros net for a family of four easily surpass- due to their already low pen- a month. The recent measures es 400 euros. This means that the sions prior to recent cuts. Social are cruel and inhuman,” said minimum wage or two-thirds of a safety nets in Greece, especially Sampsanis Ioannis, a 49 year- public servants’ pay will already be for those working in the private 9 old doctor working in a state consumed with just these two ba- sector, were less well-developed hospital24. Thanasis Kourkoulas, sic expenses. A family of two re- than in the rest o the eurozone. a 39-year-old secondary school quires at least 1,500 euros to make teacher, explained: “These mea- ends meet in any decent way; it’s As the Pasok Government had not- sures have taken an essential 2,500 euros for a family of four. ed in its pre-election campaign, the sum from our income that we Greek Government needs to spend used to spend on our everyday While wages are being depressed, more money to support those hard- needs. My monthly salary was the cost of living is rising due to est hit by the economic crisis and 1,200 euros. This has fallen as tax hikes aimed to enhance gov- the attendant austerity measures. a result of the reductions in al- ernment revenues. If the struc- However, pressures to balance lowances to around 1,100 euros. tural adjustment measures do the budget make such support ex- I will not be able to afford to go not meet their targets, more tax penses unlikely to be undertaken out for even a few social drinks. hikes are likely to come. The val- by the Government. The already This is important for Greek peo- ue-added tax (VAT) hikes hit the poor and the growing newly poor ple. Not because we don’t work poor harder than the better-off, surviving on a minimum income hard, as people claim, but be- as a larger percentage of their level, e.g. the civil servants who cause in our very restricted free incomes is spent on consump- describe themselves as the lower- time, we have this attitude of go- tion. VAT taxes are also skimmed middle class transforming into the ing out and socializing. Although off the incomes of the freelance lower class, are being largely left we work the same, or even more workers. VAT hikes are also bad to fend for themselves. hours on average than other for business, as they lower con- people in the EU, we spend our sumption and feed into the re- Politicians free time outside more than oth- cessionary cycles26. The emerg- ers. These new measures will ing recession, being shouldered are out of touch destroy these habits. For those by lower- and middle-income who earn the average salary – earners, will further reduce the Member of Parliament Sofia Sa- 800 euros – it is most painful.” amount of revenues that the Gov- korafa warned that the people see ernment obtains from income politicians as being out of touch Source: Athens News, taxes, unless the Government be- with society’s plight. “Those in 17/5/2010, Issue 13390 comes stringent on making high- high places think it’s demeaning to income earners pay more taxes. speak of food. The reason? They The Global Economic Crisis and Gender Relations: The Greek Case. Woestman, AWID

have already eaten,” she told fel- money by selling their produce security benefits. They have access low Pasok MP’s, quoting Bertolt to hungry townsfolk. to free public education and health Brecht. Source: Gilson Athens care, however, which were already News, 3/5/2010, Issue 13388 severely overburdened before the re- Rising xenophobia, cent hiring freezes. Growing “black immigrant economy” unemployment, Impact on trafficking in women One of the ironies of the Greek migrant women structural adjustment programme Martha, an immigrant work- is that it is causing an increase in Greece has the highest number of im- ing as a nanny, commented: “My the magnitude of the “black econ- migrants, as a percentage of its popu- employer did not want to let me go. omy”, a segment of the economy lation, in the entire European Union. She preferred to keep her paid job, that the Government has been aim- Xenophobia is on the rise as foreign- to continue as we were. But she ing to regulate and tax. In Greece, ers are increasingly seen to be taking lost her job. As a result, I lost mine. the “black economy” constitutes jobs that Greeks are now willing to My husband had already lost his last about one-third of the country’s do. Immigrant men are seen as more year, when the first wave of the cri- economic activities. In order to of a threat than immigrant women. sis hit us.” (interview with author). make ends meet, many Greek peo- Competition for low-paid jobs now ple today are considering shifting include construction and agricultural While immigrants are losing their at least part of their economic ac- work, which are considered “men’s jobs, Greece continues to be a main tivities to the “black economy”. jobs”, among others. Male immigrants hub for trafficking of women for sex are losing jobs as a result. work. According to Amnesty Inter- Most Greek people are against national, up to 90,000 people are taxation of income-generating Due to unemployment, many middle- believed to have been trafficked into activities that supplement their class Greek women have fallen into Greece from Central and Eastern Eu- meagre wages. One way in which the category of the “new poor“, and rope, a large number of whom are families have provided their chil- are taking on more of the unpaid women trafficked for prostitution in 10 dren with private tutoring is house work, such as cleaning and the year 2000 alone27. Police protec- through exchange of services. child care, which was work previ- tion for trafficked women is only given Family tables have also been ously done by immigrant women. Im- if they agree to testify in court against provided with olive oil, cheese migrant women are losing jobs as a their traffickers and the protection and other goods sent by rela- result, although to a lesser degree, offered is insufficient. The option of tives on the islands. Taxing such compared to their male counterparts. moving to another European country informal transactions and sup- is not made available to them28. port mechanisms, when the state Since very few immigrants have been cannot even provide subsistence granted legal status by the Greek Prostitution of women: a incomes, does not make sense to state, they have no access to social these families. As incomes drop, survival strategy for men it is only natural for people to re- In a sinister variation of “black mar- sort to such survival strategies. ket” survival strategies, one port Forcing people into worker, who is about to lose his job, Rural residents may be able to the “black economy” spoke of a plan to exploit immigrant ride out the crisis better than women’s economic plight by using those in the urban areas. Many Angeliki, a civil servant, com- them for sex work: “My buddies and I younger and middle-aged Athe- mented, “Why should I work are talking about opening up a broth- nians have told me, half-joking- full-time, and get such a low el using East European women. What ly, that they have planted food salary and a measly pension are we going to do when we lose our on their balconies, and that they – if I am lucky enough to get jobs and there aren’t other jobs out are considering returning to one at all. I would be wiser to there?” (Interview with author) their villages to live off the land. get a private insurance, and But older Athenians are not jok- work as an accountant for In February 2010, the Coordination ing; they are reminded of World “black” money. The differ- of Greek Women NGOs for the Euro- War II, when people flocked out ence between my retirement pean Women’s Lobby (EWL) presented of Athens because they could benefits would be minimal, its views on “ and not find food. Those who had and I would have lived much women, and children protection” to village homes and garden plots better in the meantime.” the Greek Parliament and in the pres- were able to feed themselves (interview with author). ence of the Vice-Minister for Civil Pro- and their families, and make tection. They demanded that concrete The Global Economic Crisis and Gender Relations: The Greek Case. Woestman, AWID

measures be taken to end violence , as well as to immigrant against women in all its forms, includ- women. In 2009, a positive move was Feminists debate ing trafficking of women in Greece for taken by the Government to facilitate retirement age prostitution, and also to stop using the younger women’s participation in impacts financial crisis in Greece as an excuse paid employment and release grand- for further inaction29. mothers from childcare duties. This There are disagreements, even meant setting up additional places among feminists, on the issue Pension changes and that provided free services to (em- of the levelling out of the retire- care crisis ployed or unemployed) mothers who ment age. Some argue, includ- had young children in private and ing the Head of the General Public sector pensions have been public nurseries. The negative side Secretariat for Equality, that this reduced as part of the austerity of the entitlement is that it is granted is a positive step toward gender measures. Prior to these cuts, the only to mothers, not parents, thus re- equality. Others, such as labour elderly were already the most vul- inforcing the stereotype of women as union activists, argue that such nerable to poverty. Greek women the sole or primary carers.33 Because a change is not about gender live longer than men, but many have of the limited number of public child equality but about raising the lower pensions than men because of care services, there are long wait- pensionable age for all workers. lower wages and being pulled out of ing lists to access this service. The They say that such a move is the workforce for years as a result Government measures may even in- impractical until crèches, hospi- of raising families. Lower pensions crease these waiting lists. tals, and aged-care facilities are mean that more women pension- set up to reduce women’s do- ers will be looking for a second job, The lack of affordable and quality mestic work burden. “Using the because they cannot subsist on pen- crèches, the reduced affordability of argument of providing equality, sions alone, and it is more likely that families to hire immigrant women as they bring us greater inequal- they will live the remaining years of helpers, and the eradication of early ity, at a time when our country their lives in poverty30. retirement for women have created is trimming down infrastructure a looming care crisis for individual and dissolving the welfare state. As part of recent policy changes, women and families and for Greek With these steps the govern- 11 the official retirement age has been society as a whole. Individual women ment is increasing, rather than raised and equalized at 65 for women are facing longer working lives and solving, women’s problems,” ar- and men. Previously, women often heavier unpaid work burdens. The gued Despina Spanou (ADEDY, took early retirement, despite the economy and the people are reaching the main civil servants’ union, cost to their careers and pensions. the breaking point. women’s affairs spokeswoman). In the public sector, women were Source: “Austerity, in the name entitled to retire up to 15 years ear- Rising domestic of gender equality,” tvxs.gr lier, if they had under-age children. The removal of these options affects violence younger women the most, as a small Intra-household tensions are Footnotes number of women between 40 and also rising as a result of the cri- 27 - Amnesty International “Greece: Jus- 50 years old will find their retirement ses. Men are now starting to feel tice and protection for trafficked women and age rising slightly, while those above their masculinity threatened by ”, www.amnesty.org.uk/news_details. 50 can already exercise their right to unemployment and the increas- asp?NewsID-17375 28 - Ibid 31 early retirement. ing problems faced in feeding 29 - European Women’s Lobby, “News from their families. Many are begin- Greece: women’s NGO hearing at the Greek Parliament” http://www.epacvaw.org/spip. Many people believe that the leveling ning to express their frustrations php?article508 out of the retirement age between verbally and, to a lesser degree, 30 - Lyberaki/Platon, 22.4.2010, Eliamep the sexes is equitable. Women in physically, by inflicting violence blog. In moves most Greeks find fair, however, some obsolete approaches to the public sector, however, consider against the women they live pensions have been discontinued, includ- early retirement a fair compensation with. Like the desperation felt by ing pensions transferred from deceased spouses to unemployed widows below age for their greater role in childbear- my Mexican host mother, many 50, or to divorced or unmarried daughters ing, even if this blocks their career women in Greece are now reach- of civil servants, many of whom exploited development and brings income in- ing their breaking point, trying to this option their entire lives, by remaining unmarried. equality in old age32. make both ends meet by combin- 31 - Lyberaki/Platon 22.4.2010 Eliamep blog ing paid work with increasing 32 - Karamaessini (2009) National Expert As- sessment of the Gender Perspective in the 2009 Because public crèches are in short unpaid work in the house, and National Reform Programme for Employment, supply, and private child care ser- dealing with abusive partners as ECCE Work Programme document: 4, 12. 33 - Karamaessini (2009) National Expert As- vices are too expensive, much of the well. Children, inevitably, bear at sessment of the Gender Perspective in the 2009 unpaid childcare has been handed least some of the brunt of their National Reform Programme for Employment, up the generational ladder, to grand- parents’ frustrations. ECCE Work Programme document: 4, 12. The Global Economic Crisis and Gender Relations: The Greek Case. Woestman, AWID

Broader implications

Welfare State pay off their debts, even though the threatens Europe,” read the news- under attack latter are just slightly higher than paper headlines36. those of the large export-oriented These occurrences are part of a economies. The German conservative press re- broader scenario connected with ports often commented on “those the whittling away of the Euro- The pressure on the weaker econo- lazy Greeks”, when in reality, pean welfare state, a process mies is coming primarily from Ger- Greece, along with Eastern Euro- that has been underway for some many, France and Britain, countries pean member states, belongs to the time now, although at a slower that have maintained high spending group of EU countries with the high- pace in many parts of Europe. As levels throughout 2010 to stimulate est average weekly working hours37. one trade union representative, economic recovery. The German Stathis Anestis, Executive Com- Government is subsidizing the wag- This is not to suggest that all the mittee Member of the Greek Con- es of millions of its workers to pre- German people support these media federation of Labour (GSEE) puts vent employment levels from falling, attacks against the Greek people. it: “European unions realise that while Britain and France are using we in Greece are the guinea pigs, debt-fueled spending, to stimulate Much commentary in the Greek and that the real target is the Eu- demand. as well as foreign press about the ropean social welfare state”34. Greek case appears to be grounded In the European governments’ “It’s not just Greece – all of southern in the conviction that Greeks should economic recovery programmes, Europe is under attack…. It is no coin- move away from a welfare sys- neoliberal economic measures cidence that they chose the acronym tem - “join the race to the bottom”, are claimed to have been cush- PIGS,” said Yiannis Michelakis, editor as one protester called it - instead 12 ioned, to some degree, by social of Eleftheros Typos (Free Press)35. of remaining steadfast to the prin- policy commitments to class and ciple that all European – and global gender equality. In practice, how- Mounting tensions around this intra- - citizens deserve a welfare state. ever, the balance between the two eurozone North-South divide can be As a result of the shock therapy, has been continuing to shift towards seen in press exchanges between however, and with so many rapid neoliberal economic measures, with Germany and Greece. In the lead up changes taking place, some Greek social policy fading slowly. to the EU-IMF agreement, the Ger- citizens are beginning to internalize man press expressed some of Ger- this logic, and are turning from an- Intra-eurozone man resentment about the possibili- ger to apathy and self-blame. What ty that they may have to dig into their were once considered as rights and North-South divide own pockets to bail out an unreliable entitlements, such as decent work, As the Greek case shows, there is partner to save the euro. The Feb- better working conditions and qual- a largely north-south divide emerg- ruary 22 issue of Focus featured an ity care, are slowly but surely be- ing within the eurozone between image of the famous Venus de Milo coming accepted by many Greeks countries that have been spared statue, covered by a Greek flag, with as “extras” that their state can no from some of the ravages of auster- the middle finger sticking up. The longer afford. ity measures, and those that have headline read “Frauds in the Euro- introduced full-fledged austerity family”, with the kicker: “Greece is Governments under measures. A divide is becoming ap- grabbing our money — and what parent between the large economies about Spain, Portugal and Italy?” attack by bailed out of Western and Northern Europe, banks which have been able to “spend” This heightened nationalist senti- their way out of some of the crisis ments in Greece and reminded The Greek people are also angry effects, and the smaller economies many Greek people of their treat- because of the behind-the-scene of countries mostly located in the ment at the hands of the Nazis. The deals involving the Greek and Mediterranean and Iberian penin- conservative Greek opposition daily other European Governments and sula (Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece, Eleftheros Typos featured its own their banks. The sums involved in Spain – “the PIIGS”). These latter version of the Berlin Victory Col- bank bailouts dwarf, many times countries, for example, lack the ca- umn, with a swastika symbol, in- over, the annual amount of debt pacity to support economic growth stead of a wreath, aloft the golden and budget deficit of Greece. through high spending levels, and to Victoria statue. “Economic Nazism But no questions were asked The Global Economic Crisis and Gender Relations: The Greek Case. Woestman, AWID

when Western governments and their central banks poured in tril- Solidarity with Greece lions of dollars or euros to save the world’s biggest banks from “Some of us are in solidarity bankruptcy after the crash of the with Greece”, argued one Ger- subprime mortgage market in the man feminist scholar. “Changes United States in 200838. An accu- such as those in Greece should rate report of such bailouts in the not be taking place anywhere. public accounts of other EU coun- For example, the German tries might have led to a much Greens have organized a cam- faster collapse of their econo- paign for Germans to holiday mies, similar to the recent events in Greece this summer. But … in Greece39. many of us in northern Euro- pean countries have already Several bailout beneficiaries, undertaken similar measures to

including the biggest banks in German weekly Focus headline, 22.2.2010 those that Greece is undertak- Germany and the speculators in ing now, with significant social Greece, have used state handouts protest at home, for example, to spearhead recent market runs in connection with pension on Greek bonds, earning hefty changes [in Germany]. Maybe profits in the process. Instead of the pension cuts in Greece are allowing Greece state-funded and more draconian, as they start- subsidized remedies, the same ed out from an already lower financiers initiated a media cam- basis; we don’t know these paign to prevent Greek Prime Min- things. There may be limits to ister Papandreou from negotiating solidarity from other European an affordable interest rate for the citizens who think that it is fair EU-IMF rescue plan as agreed at that Greece, which has an “old 13 the 25 March EU summit. These fashioned” welfare state, now financiers used the uncertainties has to undertake such changes in the rescue plan’s design to push too.” (Interview with author, the country’s borrowing costs to Greek newspaper Eleftheros Typos June 2010). historic heights40. Yet, unlike the highly exposed Greek banks, the German Government continues to in eradicating huge deficits and back its own banks. paying debts. The eurozone pol- icy-makers also demolished a Greece as deterrent taboo in EU regulations; they al- lowed the European Central Bank The Greek people are also angry (ECB) to intervene directly in the because they feel that the coun- market by buying EU Govern- try’s distress is being used as ment bonds to stabilize their pric- an example to deter other eu- es and prevent the speculators rozone countries from trying to from gambling on the countries’ resist austerity measures, and bank defaults. The Greek public Footnotes from turning to the EU for as- is upset that this rescue mecha- sistance41. nism was introduced after it had 34 - Gilson Athens News, 29.2.2010, Issue been forced to accept the harsh 13379. 35 - Saunders, The Globe and Mail, On 10 May, a few days after the EU-IMF ad hoc programme. 25.3.2010. Greek Parliament signed into law 36 - Bild.com, 25.2.2010. 37 - Karamessini, Maria (2009) Flexible the EU-IMF-brokered structural The European Commissioner for working time arrangements in Greece, adjustment programme, a three- Economic and Monetary Affairs, external report commissioned by EU Di- year EUR 750 billion European Olli Rehn, argued: “The mecha- rectorate General Employment and Social Affairs, Unit G1 “Equality between women Stabilization Mechanism was nism should be unattractive and men”: 4. announced. The EU finance min- so that other countries are not 38 - Athens News, 12.4.2010. 39 - Ibid isters promised to back up the tempted to use it other than as 40 - Ibid bilateral loans and loan guaran- a last resort”42. It has been used 41 - The Sunday Times, 30.4.2010. 42 - Green Athens News 24.5.2010, Issue tees worth 440 billion euros for to increase pressure on Italy, the 13391. the troubled “PIGS” governments eurozone country with the highest The Global Economic Crisis and Gender Relations: The Greek Case. Woestman, AWID

debt-to-GDP ratio, and France, deterrent for some Eastern Eu- with a substantial structural bud- ropean countries. At a mid-May get deficit. Spain belatedly joined meeting of European Bank for the eurozone’s austerity band- Reconstruction and Develop- wagon in order not to access such ment (EBRD), some delegates assistance, with even harsher said that the EU response to conditionalities43. Greece’s crisis made entry into the EU more attractive44. Others However, the Greek’s EU-IMF argued, however, that the Greek programme and the new rescue experience made negotiations mechanism did not become a with the IMF even tougher45.

Range of alternatives proposed

Some alternatives to the auster- ity measures and programmes Making the rich pay have been proposed. Since most of the austerity measures have been quickly enacted into According to Georgia, a civ- law, these alternatives will be il servant, “I never thought I reactive rather than pro-active: would say this, but I am so “band aid” solutions for the next fed up with our politicians three years (at least) when the that maybe it [will be] good EU-IMF programme is being en- if outsiders step in. I am ad- forced. amantly against the IMF, but 14 if European oversight could Make those make our rich pay taxes, and make our politicians … responsible pay come clean about what is going on – then some as- This call put forward at Greek pects of these programmes mass demonstrations included may actually be a change bringing corrupt politicians to for the better. But what are court and taxing the rich. Some the chances of that?” of the people are fed up with (Interview with author, the political elite’s behaviour June 2010) that they are willing to accept some loss of national autonomy as a possible recourse to help to step in and cover the debt out redress some of the problems. of a sense of filotimo (pride and obligation) was also raised. This, A few of the austerity measures however, did not materialize. have begun to address the issue of tax evasion by the well-off. Selling off state assets However, these came after the easy-to-tax lower-paid workers The privatization programme is had already borne the brunt of a move in this direction. How- the increases. ever, most Greek people re- acted strongly against it, as The “Onassis” solution foreign buyers usually take the Footnotes profits from the sale of state In the early days, when the sce- assets and siphon them out of nario of “doing it on our own” 43 - Yannopoulos Athens News the country, as in other coun- 17.5.2010. was still imaginable, the idea of tries where such programmes 44 - Ibid 42 asking shipping company own- 45 - Ibid have been introduced under IMF ers and other wealthy citizens oversight. The Global Economic Crisis and Gender Relations: The Greek Case. Woestman, AWID

Take the state to court Stiglitz suggested that a bond Stem the tide of the for contravention of EU be launched by European states neoliberal EU project with better credit rates for those social policy/laws countries most in need. Euro- pean socialists had proposed Maria Kerassimi, one of Greece’s As the austerity measures be- something along these lines, but prominent feminist scholars, has come law, the Greek people it was not implemented. Stiglitz been active in the activities of have begun to take their re- also argued that the ECB should transform!, a European network sistance to the courts. A class lend money to governments at for alternative thinking and po- action suit is being prepared in the same interest rate that it litical dialogue. Along with her connection with the changes in lends to the banks. He added that transform! colleagues, she has the retirement law, for instance. it was unfair to leave countries been emphasizing the need for It is based on some clauses in such as Greece at the mercy of a broad-based coalition to re- the European social law stipu- speculators who are out to make vise the entire European project. lating a decent standard of liv- a fast buck from bonds. They have been clarifying that ing for the elderly, which is con- the EU support mechanisms pro- travened by the revised pension New global economic vided in Greece and elsewhere law. Lawyers note that such are but short-term, stop-gap class action suits are unlikely governance structure measures that do not challenge to change the austerity laws, the monetarism and neoliberal- but may have a political impact Greek Prime Minister Papandre- ism “straightjackets” embedded in the longer term, i.e. three ou has been attempting to rally within the existing and proposed years down the line when the European and American leaders parameters of what is known as EU-IMF agreement expires. In to usher in a new era of global the “European project”. the meantime, at the European economic governance that would level, it is clear that neoliberal rein in unregulated, volatile and In a similar vein, but with a policies are taking precedence opaque derivative transactions. greater focus on feminist and over social policies. “This crisis is an opportunity to ecological approaches, the 15 correct many of the excesses WIDE Network, based in Brus- Balance austerity of globalization,” Papandreou sels, has been elaborating a cri- said. “It calls for deep structural tique of the global economic and with growth changes, changes to our global financial crisis and conducting institutions, to our system of lobbying activities on this basis. John Maynard Keynes, a firm be- global governance.” “What has As part of a longer-term femi- liever in the role of government become very clear in this affair nist framework, WIDE members intervention in the economy, is that over and above the fis- are demanding a radical rethink- would be turning in his grave cal problems that any particular ing of what constitutes “the given what has become of the country has, there are the kinds economy”. According to WIDE, IMF, said Kostas Vergopoulous, of questions about what use economics should focus on pro- Professor of Economics at Uni- people can make of things like visioning activities that maintain versity of Paris VIII.46 Vergopou- credit default swaps (CDS), how life – human and environmental los argued that if governments opaque these markets are, how – thus providing the basis for the want to balance production with it’s not clear who’s trading what radical reworking of development consumption, they should boost and how these can push coun- models towards a more humane production instead of cutting tries to the brink,” commented and environmentally sustainable consumption. But this requires Greek Finance Minister Papak- economic system49. an emphasis on growth rather onstantinou in a CNBC television than on austerity, which the cur- interview48. rent eurozone policy of meting A tax on financial transactions, Footnotes out punitive interest rates does which would be a first step in 47 46 - Gilson/Green/Yiannopoulos Athens not encourage . this direction, has been support- News, 19.4.2010, Issue 13386. ed, in words, by the European 47 - Ibid. Nobel laureate economist Jo- Parliament and the President of 48 - Yiannopoulos/Athens News, 15.3.2010, issue 13381. seph Stiglitz argued that “deficit the European Commission, Jose 49 - WIDE Network, Taking Stock: The fetishism” is a mistake, and that Manuel Barroso, as well as Bel- financial crisis and development from a feminist perspective, WIDE’s Position paper austerity should be counter- gium, France, Austria, and has on the global social, economic and envi- balanced with growth-genera- sparked a debate in England. ronmental crisis, Vienna, January 2010 tion measures, as practised by However, such a tax has not been http://62.149.193.10/wide/download/Taking- Stock_WIDEaustriaEN.pdf?id=1110 northern European countries. introduced. The Global Economic Crisis and Gender Relations: The Greek Case. Woestman, AWID

Greek feminist ria. “The good thing is that they Women’s issues alternatives have had fora and funds for their sidelined work, and this has undoubtedly been important for … the feminist As seen above, Greek feminists movement. But, their work has In Greece, political organi- have been reflecting on and react- had to take place within the con- zation has traditionally been ing to some of the ongoing aus- straints of party and labor union along party and trade union terity measures. However, femi- politics. If we look at things posi- lines, which have overshad- nist alternatives have not as yet tively, we are seeing the potential owed and sidelined feminist emerged, for a number of reasons. for a … broader-based feminist causes. In the current crisis In Greece, the feminist movement organising of a new type, that puts mentality, feminists are hesi- is fairly small, especially the femi- women’s issues first”. tant to advocate women’s is- nist movement working outside sues too strongly. As Maria, traditional party and trade union There are opportunities to form one feminist activist explains, structures. This is partly because new coalitions to address, among “Women’s unemployment is widespread conservative notions other things, the following issues: rising faster than men’s. But about gender roles, held also when so many men are also by most women as well as men, • Need for more public losing their jobs, many women make broad-based feminist orga- child care services – including many women ac- nizing difficult. Since many men tive in the parties and trade and women are losing jobs and Currently under discussion is a unions — don’t feel it is the the opportunities for meaningful plan to use EU funds to subsi- right time to bring up ‘wom- careers, feminist concerns are dize child care at private child en’s issues’. They are taking being sidelined further. care services. This would help second, or even third, place, to address, in the short term, the what is considered to be the The Greek people, including the shortfall of child care places primary issue at hand.” (Inter- trade unions, are having a hard for low-income parents. How- view with author) time knowing which way to turn, ever, as feminist trade unionists 16 as the austerity measures are have pointed out, a much better being introduced by a social- plan would be for these funds to ist government. The portending be used in creating new public dire circumstances and the inef- crèches. This would institution- fectiveness of traditional unions alize these funds into the budget, Footnotes and parties to stem the austerity thereby demonstrating a com- tide creates greater potential for mitment to provide easily avail- 50 - 17.4.2010 “Greece: Defense Spending women’s organising outside these able and affordable child care. and the Financial Crisis”, Greek American News Agency. structures. “Perhaps our female It would also create permanent 51 - Karamessini (2009) National Expert feminist colleagues in the trade jobs, especially for women, in the Assessment of the Gender Perspective unions will be more willing to col- public sector. Unfortunately, both in the 2009 National Reform Programme for Employment, EGGE Work Programme laborate with non-party-aligned of these long-term commitments document: 15. feminists, now that their position appear to be what the Govern- is deteriorating,” commented Ma- ment is trying to avoid. The Global Economic Crisis and Gender Relations: The Greek Case. Woestman, AWID

• Counting care work in crisis has shifted official Greek and impact assessment reports the pension system policy, and in May, a mutual cut and gender-inclusive pilot proj- in defence spending by 25 % was ect guidelines should be widely In theory, one of the advantages proposed by Greece to Turkey.50 distributed. Central and local gov- of the equalization of women’s Greek feminists should support ernments should be pressured retirement ages with men’s this government proposal, and to integrate the pilot projects would be the raising of wom- campaign for savings to be ear- gender-based approaches in all en’s pensions based on years of marked for more public crèches, their programmes and activities, paid work. This would decrease covering years of unpaid work and at all levels of administration. women’s economic dependence in retirement schemes, as well on men during old age. Howev- as embedding gender-sensitive • Strengthen the General er, the recent pension cuts may budgeting in government pro- Secretariat for Equality counterbalance such pension cesses. However, Turkey’s re- Research and Centre for raises based on paid working sponse was unclear, making it Gender Equality (KETHI) years. unlikely that Greece will cut its military spending. International Greece has had a General Sec- Instead of the woman taking support for such a proposal came retariat for Equality since 1985. It child care leave at the end of her recently in the European So- also has a Centre for Gender Equal- career, as has been the tradition cial Forum held in Istanbul. It is ity (KETHI), funded by the General in Greece, an alternative propos- hoped that other EU institutions Secretariat, which supports the al would be to recognize unpaid and organizations will also sup- Secretariat with research and ac- care work in the pension system port such proposals. tivities focused on community out- as unpaid care leave, at whatev- reach activities. Both these orga- er stage in her career a woman • Gender mainstreaming nizations were particularly active chooses to take it. Such unpaid under previous PASOK Govern- care “leave” should also apply The lack of availability of gender ments, but were “de-radicalized” to men’s pensions, to encourage statistics has hindered a gender and downsized under the New De- them to take on some of the un- analysis of the above-mentioned mocracy regime. 17 paid care work in the family. processes and proposals, as well as their revision to integrate The Secretariat has recently been • Cut military spending gender considerations. The main relocated from the Ministry of the tools for gender mainstreaming Interior to the Ministry of Justice, Because of its long-standing such as gender impact assess- Transparency and Human Rights. and ongoing tension with Tur- ments and gender-sensitive bud- It is hoped that this move will pro- key, Greece has the highest geting are also underdeveloped vide it with more independence, military spending/GDP ratio in and underutilised.51 and that the advent of a new PA- the EU and a better equipped SOK government will give it and air force than Germany. In other Greek feminists should call for KETHI renewed impetus – includ- parts of Europe, feminist groups the improved collection and use ing enhanced funding. However, have long proposed that military of gender statistics in all public given the budget constraints, this spending should be cut, instead proposals and processes. The will not occur without consistent of social spending. The financial outcomes of gender budgeting feminist campaigning. The Global Economic Crisis and Gender Relations: The Greek Case. Woestman, AWID

Conclusions

As the Greek case shows, the Portugal, Italy and Spain, of the aggressive neoliberalism, if left economic crises and its attendant impacts of these measures that uncontrolled, will drive all of us “recovery programmes” within the they are being pressured to un- worldwide into the ground. We eurozone are hitting both men and dertake. It is also a call to them hope that there will be strong women hard, but in gender differen- to not only protest against the protests, not only in Europe, tiated ways. They are also causing measures being undertaken in but also globally, that will cause crises in the largely invisible unpaid their own countries, but also the global leaders to reject such a “care” economy, where women attack on the welfare state sys- development model. bear the brunt of the unpaid work tem by stronger eurozone gov- burden. Most of us here in Greece ernments. It poses a warning to One of the advantages of Greece face a future of declining wages European politicians of a broad- being at the centre of interna- and pensions, increasing taxes, and based resistance against the dis- tional attention over the past few little social security support. We mantling of the welfare state. It months has been the opportuni- feel that there is little room for us also serves as a warning to all ties presented to Greek activists to change this course, at least for about the consequences of un- to get much needed exposure and the next three years, except to agi- regulated financial market play- support in the international arena. tate for some “band-aid” measures ers who prey on the weaknesses In our search for new types of po- within the framework enforced by of the economy, both real and litical alliances, the solidarity of the EU institutions and the IMF. manufactured, and turn against other feminist movements in Eu- governments that have managed rope and globally will continue to The Greek case is a warning to to bail them out. Greece’s “shock be welcomed with genuine Greek the other countries, especially therapy” is additional proof that hospitality.  18 Impacts of the Crisis on Women’s Rights: Sub regional perspectives

New from AWID is this 2010 edition of the brief se- ries: Impacts of the Crisis on Women´s Rights: Sub regional perspectives. We are excited to present an update, by region, to the exceptional research con- ducted in 2009 on the impact of the global financial crisis on women’s rights. This update provides rel- evant new data, testimonies, and voices from women activists on the ground. Each case presents an op- portunity to unpack the in-depth challenges faced by different women in diverse contexts while examining possible policy solutions from a feminist perspec- tive. This work takes us on a journey to help us think beyond the financial crisis and its implications, and start reflecting about the new world being created. At AWID we believe these studies contribute to build- ing and supporting women’s movements.

Brief 1: The impact of the crisis on women in Latin America By Alma Espino and Norma Sanchís

Brief 2: Impact of the global crisis on women in developing Asia — an update By Jayati Ghosh

Brief 3: Women of the Pacific and the global economic crisis By Karanina Sumeo

Brief 4: Impacts of the global economic and financial crisis on women in Central Asia By Nurgul Djanaeva

Brief 5: The Impact of the Deepening Economic Crisis on Women and Gender Equality in Western Europe By Wendy Harcourt and Lois Woestman

Brief 6: The Impact of the Crisis on Women in Eastern Europe By Eva Charkiewicz

Brief 7: The Global Economic Crisis and Gender Relations: The Greek Case By Lois Woestman

Brief 8: United States: The Continued Need for Social Sector Stimulus By Rania Antonopoulos and Taun Toay

Brief 9: The Impact of the Deepening Economic Crisis on Women in Eastern and Southern Africa By Zo Randriamaro

These publications can be found on the AWID website: www.awid.org. This publication is part of AWID’s initiative: Influencing Development Actors and Practices for Women’s Rights (IDeA) that seeks to contribute to advancing feminist understandings of the relationship between development and women’s rights issues with a particular focus on the aid effectiveness agenda and the Financing for Development process at the UN.