Young women and anyone who experiences gender-based discrimination have been disproportionately affected by the economic and social impacts of COVID-19. Young women made up 59% of the total job losses when the pandemic began, and as of March 2021, young women were suffering employment losses three times worse than the average.  

Supported by the federal Department for Women and Gender Equality, our current research project, “Ensuring a Young Feminist Economy” will address the unique needs and impacts of COVID-19 on young women with an equity lens, and tackle structural inequities to set up young women and anyone who experiences gender-based discrimination to participate equally and effectively in economies and public life of the future.

By collating and conducting current research on young women’s economic participation and participation in decision-making spaces, and by advocating for young women and anyone who experiences gender-based discrimination with lived experience to take their rightful place in these decision-making spaces, this important research project will identify the key policy priorities for ensuring a young feminist economy.