Abstract
This study examines the interaction of technological transformation and neoliberal policies in shaping gender-based labour inequalities within Europe. The rise of the ‘gig economy’ has introduced new forms of labour commodification—such as crowdwork—raising questions about mechanisms of exploitation beyond digital precarity, which disproportionately affects women. While crowdwork promises flexibility and autonomy, it has reinforced unstable working conditions, particularly in feminised sectors. Regulation Theory provides a framework to examine labour market changes driven by three decades of deregulation. This research explores how digital platforms reconfigure labour relations, reinforcing principles of Western societies that instrumentalize the human body, especially female bodies, for capital. Through a comparative analysis of Spain, France, Germany, and Sweden, the analysis reveals how various normative frameworks address the commodification of platform labour. Key institutional factors—such as algorithmic regulation, labour classification, and social protection policies—are identified as mitigating or exacerbating gender inequalities. Using a mixed-methods approach and a digital precarity index, platforms are classified into three types: (1) offshored skilled labour; (2) unskilled on-site labour; (3) feminised labour, where market logics commodify care roles. Findings reveal an increasingly precarious labour system characterized by low wages, irregular hours, overwork, social isolation, and lack of social protection. Additionally, platform labour practices also reinforce gender subordination through algorithmic control. Overall, this research deepens understanding of weaknesses in the new work organization and legal loopholes surrounding it. It emphasizes the need for innovative regulatory frameworks to address the growing commodification of work in the digital economy while promoting workers’ rights and gender equity.
Presenters
Blanca Lozano NavarroPhD Student in Economic Internationalization, Institutions, and Policies, Applied Economics, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Platform Economy, Digital Labour, Gender Inequality, Labour Regulation, Institutional Analysis
