Europe and the economic lessons of the COVID-19 crisis: Ecofeminism and development alternatives

Abstract

This chapter addresses the scenarios that are opening up in Europe, using two complementary prisms to structure our ideas. It analyses the European Union (EU) measures that have been implemented and the resulting advances as well as criticisms raised from the feminist sectors. The chapter examines other strategies of feminist resistance and struggle that allow progress towards Life Sustainability as an emancipatory horizon and a new way of organizing the economic system. The feminist factions demanded: on the one hand, to overturn the austerity policy, with a progressive tax reform that did not favour the male provider/female caregiver family model and that fought against tax fraud. Gender equality has always been a constituent part of the European Social Model but not always with the same focus. A green transition that tries not to leave anyone behind in the short term should not forget the transformation horizons in the long term.