Transforming Gender Policy Through Economics
Caren Grown’s career is a testament to her dedication to gender equality. Her work spans from the U.N. Secretariat in the 1980s to various global initiatives. Her insights have shaped gender-focused economic policies, showcasing the need for a comprehensive approach that includes fiscal measures and public spending.
Grown emphasizes the importance of progressive fiscal policies that tackle economic disparities. She advocates for policies that do not overly burden the poor while ensuring equitable access to essential public goods and services like education and healthcare.
Her collaboration with international scholars has resulted in significant advancements in feminist economics. These partnerships have produced influential works, such as the book “Development crises and alternative visions,” which continues to be a cornerstone in gender and development studies.
Grown’s vision extends beyond traditional economic theories, urging a broader perspective that considers both taxation and expenditure in the pursuit of gender equality.
Rethinking Taxation Through a Gender Lens
Tax systems have evolved, but Grown argues that the existing frameworks are inadequate. She advocates for a feminist fiscal policy agenda that addresses broader issues, such as the progressivity of tax systems and the implementation of wealth taxes.
This agenda should include:
- Ensuring progressive tax policies that do not disproportionately affect women.
- Linking taxation with government expenditures to promote gender equality.
- Planning for long-term fiscal sustainability with a gender perspective.
Grown critiques traditional tax literature for focusing solely on biases within tax systems. She emphasizes the need to consider the overall impact of fiscal policies on gender equality, rather than isolating tax issues.
By integrating tax and expenditure policies, Grown believes that governments can create more effective solutions for achieving gender equality and supporting public services that women often rely on.
The Intersection of Climate Change and Care Work
Climate change disproportionately affects women due to their roles as primary caregivers. Grown highlights how climate events exacerbate the challenges of caregiving, making it crucial to include care infrastructure in climate adaptation plans.
She stresses the importance of integrating care considerations into urban planning, transportation, and disaster risk management. This approach ensures that care facilities are resilient to climate impacts and can support caregivers during emergencies.
Grown advocates for climate adaptation finance that includes care as a vital sector. She believes that combining climate and care initiatives can create synergistic benefits, enhancing the resilience of communities.
Her work with the 17 Rooms initiative aims to help cities address both care and climate challenges. Through collaborative projects, they are developing toolkits for implementing dual-benefit activities in urban settings.
Politics vs. Policy in Gender Equality
According to Grown, gender equality is deeply political, with governments often controlling women’s reproductive rights and public roles. Policies must aim to remove constraints and enable women’s full participation in economic and public life.
Effective policies recognize and address the barriers that prevent women from achieving their potential. These policies should create environments where women can thrive as leaders and active community members.
Grown distinguishes between politics, which often restricts women’s roles, and policy, which should focus on empowering women through supportive institutions and markets.
Her work underscores the importance of creating policies that not only address immediate gender issues but also promote long-term systemic change for gender equality.
mason_dreamer0
Typo alert: I think you meant “significant” instead of “significat” in the fourth paragraph. Great article otherwise!
emilycelestial
OMG, this is so cool! But isn’t it too ambitious to combine climate and care work?
jadetranquility
Her ideas are impressive, but I wonder if governments will ever take such radical steps. 🤔
liamoasis
Can you please provide more details on the 17 Rooms initiative? It sounds fascinating!
paisley
This makes me so hopeful for the future! Are there any specific countries already implementing these policies?
liamshadow
Interesting read, but I think focusing on tax systems might be too narrow. Any thoughts on that?
toby_empyreal6
Thanks for sharing this! Caren Grown’s work is truly inspiring. 😊
Olivia
Great insights, but how practical is it to integrate gender and climate policies on a global scale?
benjaminbeacon
Wow, this is mind-blowing! How can we support Caren Grown’s initiatives locally?