Greening the Workforce: A Feminist Perspective

Abstract

This paper argues that there is a risk that policy proposals for a ‘greener workforce’ will replicate current gendered inequalities. Some ‘Just Transition’ frameworks for addressing workers’ concerns about a green economy expressly focus on male-dominated sectors. Others, while recognizing the need to include women, fail to identify or counteract the patriarchal power relations which drive inequality. Part I demonstrates the extent to which some of the most prominent Just Transition frameworks are dominated by a male norm. Part II examines how the dominance of the male norm can be confronted and addressed. Simply referring to gender equality is not sufficient. Instead, Just Transition frameworks should be scrutinized under the lens of a conception of substantive gender equality based on four dimensions: redressing disadvantage; addressing stigma, stereotyping, prejudice and violence; facilitating participation; and achieving structural change. Part III uses the four-dimensional framework of gendered substantive equality to point a way towards a future reconstruction of the labour force that can incorporate values that are both green and feminist. Part IV turns to women’s role in bringing about change and argues that to truly engender Just Transition frameworks, participation should avoid essentializing women and instead be based on collective and grass-roots organization. Engendering Just Transitions, Substantive Equality, Greening the Workforce, Four- Dimensional Equality, Feminist Perspective on Climate Change, Unpaid Work, Care, Informal Sector, International Labour Organization.