Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden are considered powerful States, but their societies are at stake, according to a report from the EU Parliament. The situation is not so different in Luxembourg and in Baltic Republics
by Emanuele Bonini
Austerity-friendly countries of the European Union are in danger. Since crisis made life conditions more difficult, «single mothers are at high risk of being poor», according to a report drafted for the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality of the European Parliament. According to the document, in particular the employment arrangements of women is «cause for worry, as they are overrepresented in non-standard work arrangements», and working part-time «does not suffice to stay out of poverty for single mothers». Across the EU, 38% of working women with dependent children are in part-time arrangements versus only 5% of men. In some countries, more than half of working women are being part-time employed. This is the case in the Netherlands (84%), Germany (74%), Austria (61%), Luxembourg (50%) and Belgium (50%). So here is where single mothers and their children are more at risk of poverty and social exclusion. Single mothers run a particularly high poverty risk in Greece (57%), Luxembourg (51%), Malta (47%), Lithuania (46%), Germany (43%), Latvia (42%), Italy (41%), and Bulgaria (40%). Right now countries with large rural areas such as Finland, Bulgaria, Poland and Romania also display high shares of women having difficult access to transportation. Lack of adequate access to public transportation is also a problem in Ireland, Italy, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Germany, and Estonia.
Still, this conditions can transferred to children, since children living with a single parent constitute more than 20% of all children in the majority of Member States. In five of these countries, these children account for more than half of all children living in poverty: the United Kingdom (53%), Luxembourg (54%), Austria (59%), Belgium (69%) and Sweden (70%). Being single mothers «at high risk of being poor», their children are, too. These figures show how in danger are people and societies in those countries always considered as the best. The Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Luxembourg and the Baltic republic have always been seen as model for both economy and social life. Today the report from the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality of the European Parliament showed how the so-called "best countries" are less efficient than it was thought. Still, these huge number of part-time female workers reflect a culture by which women are for domestic affairs. The family scheme appeared to be the following: men at work earning money for the family, women at home taking care about children. Thus the "best countries" are also the most modern ones. It is not a coincidence if this report concluded that «to ensure that the economy works for women as well as men, gender mainstream needs to be applied to all EU policies including the Stability and Growth Pact».
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| "Mother and son" by Gustav Klimt |
Austerity-friendly countries of the European Union are in danger. Since crisis made life conditions more difficult, «single mothers are at high risk of being poor», according to a report drafted for the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality of the European Parliament. According to the document, in particular the employment arrangements of women is «cause for worry, as they are overrepresented in non-standard work arrangements», and working part-time «does not suffice to stay out of poverty for single mothers». Across the EU, 38% of working women with dependent children are in part-time arrangements versus only 5% of men. In some countries, more than half of working women are being part-time employed. This is the case in the Netherlands (84%), Germany (74%), Austria (61%), Luxembourg (50%) and Belgium (50%). So here is where single mothers and their children are more at risk of poverty and social exclusion. Single mothers run a particularly high poverty risk in Greece (57%), Luxembourg (51%), Malta (47%), Lithuania (46%), Germany (43%), Latvia (42%), Italy (41%), and Bulgaria (40%). Right now countries with large rural areas such as Finland, Bulgaria, Poland and Romania also display high shares of women having difficult access to transportation. Lack of adequate access to public transportation is also a problem in Ireland, Italy, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Germany, and Estonia.
Still, this conditions can transferred to children, since children living with a single parent constitute more than 20% of all children in the majority of Member States. In five of these countries, these children account for more than half of all children living in poverty: the United Kingdom (53%), Luxembourg (54%), Austria (59%), Belgium (69%) and Sweden (70%). Being single mothers «at high risk of being poor», their children are, too. These figures show how in danger are people and societies in those countries always considered as the best. The Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Luxembourg and the Baltic republic have always been seen as model for both economy and social life. Today the report from the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality of the European Parliament showed how the so-called "best countries" are less efficient than it was thought. Still, these huge number of part-time female workers reflect a culture by which women are for domestic affairs. The family scheme appeared to be the following: men at work earning money for the family, women at home taking care about children. Thus the "best countries" are also the most modern ones. It is not a coincidence if this report concluded that «to ensure that the economy works for women as well as men, gender mainstream needs to be applied to all EU policies including the Stability and Growth Pact».
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