Abstract

VILLAGOMEZ, Elizabeth. La actividad laboral de las mujeres en España:  Retos económicos y sociales del sistema impositivo y de seguridad social . Gaceta Laboral [online]. 2005, vol.11, n.2, pp.208-229. ISSN 1315-8597.

This article describes the situation of women in the Spanish labour market and links this situation to the existing social security and taxation systems in Spain. The low participation rates, in relation to the European Union averages, as well as high unemployment rates, and higher instability in the labour market in general have been identified as the main reason for low fertility rates of women in Spain and also in other European Union countries such as Italy. The lack of participation or discontinuous participation in the labour market and the strength of the traditional gender division of labour in the household is an obstacle for women's full access to economic and social rights as workers. The higher dependency of women on non-contributive benefits and the lack of social services for the care of children and dependent adults result in a system that can be described as giving women "a choice" but without any state support. Although the extended family culture in Spain is very strong, recent social trends such as the increase in the age of the mother at first birth, urbanization, ageing of society and a high influx of immigrants is putting strains on women and promoting the need to make rather urgent reforms that are sensitive to this situation. 

Keywords : Labor market; Spanish women; equality of rights; labor participation.