The Likely Economic Impact of Brexit on Women: Lessons from Gender and Trade Research

Abstract

Brexit will mean new trading arrangements for the UK, not just with the EU but with the rest of the world. It is well established that trade agreements can have significantly different impacts on different groups of women and men as a result of differences in economic position, caring responsibilities and political power. With continued uncertainty about what trade agreement the UK will reach with the EU, and therefore what trade agreements with the rest of the world will be possible and/or necessary it is difficult to predict with certainty what these gendered impacts might be. One commonly used framework to assess the gendered impacts of trade agreements focusses on the implications of trade agreements for employment, for consumption and for the provision of public services. Using this model this chapter will explore the key gender issues to consider when analysing the eventual trade agreements made by the UK.