Feminist approaches in the Introductory Microeconomics course

Mainstream economics largely neglects issues of gender inequality. The assumptions of rational economic man, and of altruistic male heads maximizing household well-being in the neoclassical world are unrealistic and overlook the important role that gender norms and power inequalities play in influencing economic opportunities and outcomes. Additionally, the core economy, where women's contribution to production and care work is much greater than men's, is largely ignored in mainstream economics. This chapter discusses ways in which gender issues can be integrated in an introductory microeconomics course. It illustrates how a feminist approach to teaching economics will provide a richer and more realistic understanding of the economy.