Gender inequality in Russia’s informal economy: structural determinants and long-term risks of social exclusion

This article examines the problem of gender inequality in the context of informal employment in Russia, focusing on the structural factors perpetuating this phenomenon and its long-term socio-economic consequences for women. The research methodology is based on the analysis for statistical data from Rosstat and international organizations, which helps identify key disparities. The core of the work reconsiders official statistics critically, which, while recording a quantitative predominance of men in the informal sector, fails to capture the qualitative specifics of female employment characterized by greater vulnerability and concentration in the least protected niches. The central argument is the thesis of the systemic nature of informality feminization, driven not by free choice but by the interplay of three mechanisms: institutional deficit (lack of childcare and elderly care infrastructure), normative pressure (assigning women the primary role in unpaid care work), and legal gaps in pension legislation. The empirical analysis confirms that the necessity to combine paid and unpaid work encourages women to precarious employment, leading to a significant gender pay gap and, consequently, to the formation of deficient pension rights. Special attention is paid to the paradox of the pension system, where a higher replacement rate for women masks their actual economic vulnerability in old age due to low absolute pension amounts. In conclusion, the need for comprehensive policy intervention is substantiated, including expanding access to care services, integrating principles of accounting for unpaid labor into the pension model, and conducting campaigns to transform socio-cultural stereotypes. The article contributes to the discourse on overcoming gender inequality in the labor market and reducing the risks of social exclusion.

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