The underestimating of the different effects of the present economic crisis on men and women, goes along with the fact that the promotion of the equality of the two sexes, has lost its vigor as a social and political goal especially on those countries such as Cyprus, which suffers not only from the economic crisis but also from an unresolved ethno national conflict. The crisis is gendered and men and women are affected differently, and consequently face different problems. Women are affected the most by this crisis and encounter obstacles in their participation in the labour market thus they are more vulnerable to staying unemployed. As a consequence of unemployment, the negative climate and the increase of social tensions and the migration in search of work the family conditions are impacted negatively. Research has shown an increase in domestic violence in times of economic crises as well as an intensification of traditional gender roes and the rise of ultra right groups or political parties. A corollary to women’s sex is their class, location, religion, sexuality, ethnicity and race.
Feminist theory critically examines the impact of this crisis (which has created additional gender problems) and looks into how state policies try to solve and cope with the different demands from the standpoint of gender equality. Sharp curtailment of state expenditures on social welfare hit working women in a disproportionate manner as well as gender equality policies thus reinforcing the hegemonic male discourse which sets the priorities usually from a male perspective. Furthermore the paper will argue that an emphasis on gender equality in times of crises is an emphasis on development and participation of the whole of the population in the making of state policies and budget allocations
