Gender Equality in Employment Utilizing Female Social Entrepreneurship in Greece

Abstract

Greek women are severely affected by the on-going financial crisis. They deal with the effects of unemployment and they experience a marginalised position in the Greek labour market due to deep-rooted stereotypes which result in inequality of employment opportunities. Greece has ratified the CEDAW Convention 1979 which prohibits discrimination against women in occupation on the basis of gender. Greece has also transposed the EU Directives against the discrimination of women to ensure that several women’s rights are protected. Although measures supplemented by national law, provide a framework for equality and protection of women’s rights, Greek women, yet face barriers that hinder their participation in the workforce. Against those barriers, Greece should take positive measures to eliminate existing stereotypes and to empower women to participate in the economic life. Measures can be designed in the context of the Social Entrepreneurship Law 2011 with policies that promote female social entrepreneurship and women’s employment in social enterprises. The participation of women in social entrepreneurship activities could generate employment opportunities that contribute to the elimination of existing barriers and effectively guarantee the realisation of the right to work for women in Greece.

Keywords: social enterprises, right to work, Koinsep, women, Greece, barriers, gender equality