Gendering the gig worker: a critical review of gender inequalities in the gig economy

Abstract

The gig economy is where individuals and businesses provide work for an on-demand workforce either online or in-person. It is an attractive alternative for both men and women when the traditional labour market no longer works. But it also presents challenges: it is a site where gender inequalities in the traditional workplace are reproduced. Drawing on pre-existing quantitative and qualitative research from across North America, Europe and the Global South , this chapter illustrates how the gig economy is gendered across three domains: (1) how men and women participate in the gig economy, including their key motivations and reasons for entering the gig economy; (2) the differences in earning..