Economic Crises and Resilience Strategies of Women – A Case Study from the Portuguese Northern Inland

This paper presents the outline of a research based in four case studies of women facing social vulnerability and economic grievances in the district of Vila Real (Portugal). These cases offer an heterogeneous picture of the constraints that affect women threatened by precarious, underpaid, informal and seasonal jobs, a condition worsen by the lack of employment opportunities and increased personal responsibility over the household and dependent kin. Identifying the strategies these women use to overcome the difficulties is a major objective of the paper as well as understanding the role of informal family and community solidarities.