Gender

Year: 2001
Authors: Beneria, Lourdes
Title: Changing Employment Patterns and the Informalization of Jobs: General Trends and Gender Dimensions
Format: Working Paper (ILO Publication)
Pages: 30
The paper analyses the factors in economic restructuring and globalisation that generate the growth of informal activities - resulting in a vicious circle of poverty and economic insecurity. It analyzes the growth of women’s participation in informal activities, emphasizing that there are contradictory forces at work regarding women’s employment.

Year: 2001
Authors: Committee for Asian Women
Title: Struggling to be Heard: Asian women in Informal Work
Format: Paper
Pages: 119
This paper explores the growth of informal employment in Asia. It begins a process of collating information about women workers in informal employment in the countries of Asia and aims to link this information with the twin processes of lobbying and advocacy on the one hand and strengthening a platform for women workers in informal work.

Year: 2002
Authors: International Labour Organization
Title: Women and Men in the Informal Economy: A Statistical Picture
Format: Booklet
Pages: 60
The purpose of this report is to provide a statistical picture of the informal economy worldwide. The statistics and indicators presented in this book are designed to provide a better understanding of the size, components and characteristics of the informal economy.

Year: 2004
Authors: Women Working Worldwide
Title: Garment Industry Supply Chains: A Resource for Worker Education and Solidarity
Format: Education Resource Pack
Pages: 80
This resource pack aims to assist garment workers (and others), the majority of whom are women, to understand the supply chains in which they are working, in order to help them to organise and build solidarity links. It argues that with strong local, national and international organisation, workers at all stages of the garment production process stand a better chance of achieving success in their struggles.

Year: 2004
Authors: Unni, Jeemol and Uma, Rani
Title: Gender, Informality and Poverty
Format: Journal Article from Seminar
Pages: 15
This paper presents crucial differences between men and women’s economic situation in the informal economy. It argues that women are more vulnerable, particularly in the changing economic context, creating a link between gender, informality and poverty which women find difficult to overcome.

Year: 2004
Authors: Chen, Martha; Vanek, Joann and Carr, Marilyn
Title: Mainstreaming Informal Employment and Gender in Poverty Reduction: A Handbook for Policy-makers and Other Stakeholders
Format: Book
Pages: 276
Drawing on recent data and evidence of the global research policy network, Women in Informal Employment Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO), this book provides the case for increased emphasis on informal employment and gender in poverty-reduction strategies, and sets out a strategic framework for policy makers seeking to follow this approach.

Year: 2004
Authors: Oxfam International
Title: Trading Away Our Rights: Women Working in Global Supply Chains
Format: Book
Pages: 52
This book illustrates how globalisation has drawn millions of women into paid employment across the developing world; and while their jobs could be providing the income, security, and support needed to lift them and their families out of poverty, they are systematically being denied their fair share of the benefits brought by globalisation.

Year: 2005
Authors: Gallin, Dan and Horn, Pat
Title: Organizing Informal Women Workers
Format: Paper prepared for UNRISD Gender Policy Report.
Pages: 50
This paper explores the patriarchal organisation of work relationships in the informal economy. It challenges trade unions to tackle the causes of patriarchal exploitation of women workers, and the growing challenge of organising women workers, the majority of whom remain in the unregulated informal economy.

Year: 2005
Authors: Chen, Martha; Vanek, Joann; Lund, Francie; Heintz, James with Bonner, Christine and Jhabvala, Renana
Title: The Progress of the World's Women 2005: Women, Work and Poverty.
Format: United Nations Development Fund for Women (Unifem) Report
Pages: 116
This report outlines how women workers are not only concentrated in the informal economy, but in precarious forms of employment more generally. It argues for closer attention to the role of women, particularly poor working women in the informal economy, and assesses the impact of this on efforts to meet the Millennium Development Goals.

Year: 2006
Authors: Chen, Martha; Vanek, Joann and Heintz, James
Title: Informality, Gender and Poverty: A Global Picture.
Format: Journal Article from Economic and Political Weekly
Pages: 9
This article focuses on the challenge of decent work in the informal economy. It illustrates both the formal and informal segments of the labour force and the average earnings and poverty risk associated with working in the different segments. Special attention is paid to the location of the working poor, both women and men.

Year: 2008
Authors: International Poverty Centre, Brazil
Title: Poverty in Focus: Gender Equality
Format: Publication of the International Poverty Centre
Pages: 28
This publication presents the results of research on poverty and inequality in the developing world. The specific edition included here highlights the importance of improving gender equity for pro-poor growth and for the improved well being of poor families.

Year: 2008
Authors: Chant, Sylvia and Pedwell, Carolyn
Title: Women, Gender and the Informal Economy: An Assessment of ILO Research and Suggested Ways Forward
Format: Discussion Paper
Pages: 64
This article provides a review and analysis of the International Labour Office’s (ILO) research on women, gender and the informal economy. It compares and contrasts analytical and methodological frameworks used in various studies; identifies research gaps and directions for future research; and pulls out key findings that may assist concerned ILO units in taking action and formulating policy directions.