Short Summary: Research has shown that men and women are affected differently by stabilisation and structural adjustment policies, as well as by globalisation. The focus of this article is to analyse the differential employment impacts on and vulnerabilities of women and men caused by the East Asian economic crisis. The author's analysis is based on conventional macroeconomic concepts, integrated with feminist principles (such as the sexual division of labour and the recognition of reproductive unpaid work). The study shows that during the East Asian crisis women's unemployment increased more slowly than men's and that women's working hours in the labour market increased overall. Gender disparities in total work hours have been made worse by major public cuts in community, social and care services which transformed families and households into the primary safety nets, therefore increasing women's unpaid workloads, who traditionally bear the main responsibility for the maintenance of households. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) should be more aware of how macro- economic policy at the national, regional and international levels affects gender relations and women's social, economic and political status. Available in hardcopy and electronically (by subscription to World Development) USA & Canada: usinfo-f@elsevier.com Europe, Middle East & Africa: nlinfo-f@elsevier. nl Latin America: elsevier@campus.com.br