Abstract

Universal Basic Income is not a consensual issue among feminist thinkers. Some authors defend its potential for correcting the bias of social security systems in favor of employment and in detriment of unpaid work, as well as its contribution to the empowerment and economic decision-making power of women within the family. Yet other authors argue that UBI will not contribute to changing the traditional division of labor between men and women, and that it could even strengthen it. This paper argues that, by ensuring the economic security of all human beings, UBI is a required pillar for the effective realization of other human rights, namely gender equality. The discussion is made within the framework of Nancy Fraser’s model of “the universal caretaker” and the feminist critique of dominant theories of justice and citizenship by Almaz Zelleke. It is argued that, by ensuring minimum economic security for all, the UBI enhances the economic autonomy and the social status of the most disadvantaged women, thus constituting a valuable tool in overcoming the intersectional disadvantages between gender, class and race, among others.