In September 2024, Amazone organized the third edition of the Feminist Days. In collaboration with various partners and equal.brussels, we put together a diverse feminist program. The theme? Housing. In this article, you will discover why this topic is so closely linked to gender equality.
While the most common forms of housing discrimination in the Brussels Region are based on financial situation (income) and origin, we see in practice that women* face increased discrimination from landlords and real estate agencies. Women are still more often in precarious situations than men (70% of individuals living in poverty are women) and are therefore directly affected by income-based discrimination.
This increased vulnerability is partly explained by the annual gender pay gap (21%) between women and men and by the burden of household and childcare responsibilities, which limits women’s availability in the labor market. Additionally, women represent 83% of single-parent households and receive lower pensions than men.
Moreover, sexist stereotypes remain deeply ingrained, such as the supposed inability of women to manage a budget, do maintenance work, or take care of a home and outdoor space. Women with one or more children are also frequently denied rentals on the pretext that they are more likely to cause damage to the property.
People who have been discriminated against or witnessed such discrimination can appeal to UNIA or file a complaint via the online form of Brussels Housing, the housing administration of the Brussels Capital Region.
To highlight this inequality, Amazone, in collaboration with many partners, organized the third edition of the Feminist Days focused on housing. From Thursday September 19th to Saturday September 21st, the Amazone House hosted a multitude activities exploring the intersection of housing and gender inequality. The program included lectures, DIY workshops, performances, and exhibitions. With a record number of visitors, we can proudly call this third edition of our annual festival a great success!
We would like to thank all our partners for their dedication and our visitors for their enthusiasm and curiosity throughout the festival. A special thanks to Brieuc Van Elst for the wonderful photos, some of which we are excited to share today! We also extend our gratitude to equal.brussels for their financial support of this project.
The next edition of the Feminist Days will focus on economic violence and will take place on September 18, 19, and 20, 2025!
* We refer to anyone who recognises themselves under this name and maintain that everyone is free to define their own gender identity.
To find out more about the close links between housing and gender inequality, see Angela D.’s comprehensive guide entitled “A feminist approach to housing” (FR).
Tanita Leclercq
Communication and projectcoordinator
