Archive for the ‘Privileges’ Category
Women Facing The Economic Crisis
“Poverty has a woman’s face”—a slogan that could be read from a protester’s banner in the US. Almost all economic studies recognize that women are the most hard-hit by the economic crisis. The International Labor Organization (ILO) has predicted an unemployment rate of over 7.4% globally for women, as opposed to 7% for men. Women form the majority of low-wage casual earners with low social protection. The deterioration of the economy is believed to affect these groups dramatically. In addition, women workers’ rights are now becoming less defensible as the economic situation worsens. Employers and governments often hide behind the pretext of economic crisis to make the changes they wish or to avoid granting of rights that are owed to women. Women, as the protectors of the family, are often required to work harder when their men become unemployed.
There are not a million solutions to the economic crisis. It is a question of how much money is coming in, and how much is going out. A balance between the two is crucial. When incomes fall, the lifestyle should be adjusted accordingly in order to see through this difficult period. Credit-financed ways of life should be abandoned. This is what landed us in this trouble in the first place. Here are some tips on how to diminish expenses:
- Identify key expenses—these are the expenses without which the family would not be able to see through the month (e.g. food, essential clothing, rent, utilities…etc.).
- Identify all superfluous expenses—toys, dinner parties, fashion clothing, vacations…etc.
- Budgeting—match the income of the family and the expenses. Cut down superfluous expenses to the extent that is necessary.
- Allow for some savings—this will help in the really hard times.
