Womens' equality has come a long way but it has further to go.
The #MeToo movement over the past year has again highlighted gender inequality when it comes to sexual harassment in the workplace and emphasises a need for the strengthening of laws surrounding these issues.
Currently only 1/3 of MPs are women and many STEM subjects see similar inequality. We have now entered our second year of gender pay gap reporting and unfortunately the numbers do not equate. In 2017 a report by the world economic forum predicted that it would take another 100years until the gender gap closes.
Inequality is seen by many as a problem in the past. But as recently at 1991 rape in marriage was first considered a crime.
Fawcett Society is the leading charity campaigning for womens rights in great Britain. They state:
'Our vision is a society in which women and girls in all their diversity are equal and truly free to fulfill their potential creating a stronger, happier, better future for us all.
We’ve been advancing women’s equality since 1866 when at just 19, Millicent Fawcett collected signatures on a petition for women’s votes. She went on to lead the constitutional suffrage campaign and made this cause her lifetime’s work, securing equal voting rights 62 years later.
Today we continue her legacy of fighting sexism and gender inequality through hard-hitting research. Our national campaigns shape the debate and drive change'.
Current campaigns:
A report by the Equality for Human Rights Commission (Womens rights in Great Britain 2013-2018) highlighted that 4/5 survivors of partner abuse do not report it and only 15% of sexual violence survivors report it. This combined with cuts to women support services doesn't look to improve these figures.
Childcare costs have risen by 48% between 2008 and 2016. Most women still undertake most childcare and the new shared parental leave bill was supported by Fawcett, however, only 1% of men have taken it up. On top of this, 11% of mothers said they were forced to leave their jobs equating to 54,000 women a year. But how do we start closing these gaps and reversing these stereotypes?
A recent study by Fawcett looked into the effect of stereotyping on children. They found that 45% of people said that they had experienced stereotyping as children and 51% said it constrained their later career choices. This study also highlighted toxic masculinity in males ability to express emotions and girls low self esteem. By age 2, children become aware of gender and by 6, children associated intelligence with male and 'niceness' with female. Fawcett calls for an increase in childrens' literature challenging gender stereotypes. Also it would benefit to match the Sweden school curriculum that includes challenging stereotyping.
With Brexit fast approaching Fawcett are campeining to make sure womens rights are held on the agenda with #FaceHerFuture. Their first report shows the large impact on womens jobs, social services and family budgets post brexit. Its predicted that brexit will see losses on jobs that rely heavily on trade with the EU such as textiles which have a high women workforce. Health and social care are also likely to see cuts to funding with a workforce at 78.5% (average) are women. A loss of EU staff are predicted to cause presure to the NHS where 77% of their workforce are women. The short term increase in job opportunities are thought to be quashed by cuts to funding causing job losses.
Fawcett have asked the following questions to the government that have not yet been answered:
Gender equality is not a problem of the past. It is happening today.
Lozzy
Information gathered from the follwing sources:
https://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/far-have-womens-rights-advanced-century/
The #MeToo movement over the past year has again highlighted gender inequality when it comes to sexual harassment in the workplace and emphasises a need for the strengthening of laws surrounding these issues.
Currently only 1/3 of MPs are women and many STEM subjects see similar inequality. We have now entered our second year of gender pay gap reporting and unfortunately the numbers do not equate. In 2017 a report by the world economic forum predicted that it would take another 100years until the gender gap closes.
Inequality is seen by many as a problem in the past. But as recently at 1991 rape in marriage was first considered a crime.
Fawcett Society is the leading charity campaigning for womens rights in great Britain. They state:
'Our vision is a society in which women and girls in all their diversity are equal and truly free to fulfill their potential creating a stronger, happier, better future for us all.
We’ve been advancing women’s equality since 1866 when at just 19, Millicent Fawcett collected signatures on a petition for women’s votes. She went on to lead the constitutional suffrage campaign and made this cause her lifetime’s work, securing equal voting rights 62 years later.
Today we continue her legacy of fighting sexism and gender inequality through hard-hitting research. Our national campaigns shape the debate and drive change'.
Current campaigns:
- Call for a domestic abuse bill to recognise the disproportionate impact on women to increase funding and support for women experiencing all kinds of abuse
- Call for longer better paid leave for dads in order to lead to a share of parenting duties.
A report by the Equality for Human Rights Commission (Womens rights in Great Britain 2013-2018) highlighted that 4/5 survivors of partner abuse do not report it and only 15% of sexual violence survivors report it. This combined with cuts to women support services doesn't look to improve these figures.
Childcare costs have risen by 48% between 2008 and 2016. Most women still undertake most childcare and the new shared parental leave bill was supported by Fawcett, however, only 1% of men have taken it up. On top of this, 11% of mothers said they were forced to leave their jobs equating to 54,000 women a year. But how do we start closing these gaps and reversing these stereotypes?
A recent study by Fawcett looked into the effect of stereotyping on children. They found that 45% of people said that they had experienced stereotyping as children and 51% said it constrained their later career choices. This study also highlighted toxic masculinity in males ability to express emotions and girls low self esteem. By age 2, children become aware of gender and by 6, children associated intelligence with male and 'niceness' with female. Fawcett calls for an increase in childrens' literature challenging gender stereotypes. Also it would benefit to match the Sweden school curriculum that includes challenging stereotyping.
With Brexit fast approaching Fawcett are campeining to make sure womens rights are held on the agenda with #FaceHerFuture. Their first report shows the large impact on womens jobs, social services and family budgets post brexit. Its predicted that brexit will see losses on jobs that rely heavily on trade with the EU such as textiles which have a high women workforce. Health and social care are also likely to see cuts to funding with a workforce at 78.5% (average) are women. A loss of EU staff are predicted to cause presure to the NHS where 77% of their workforce are women. The short term increase in job opportunities are thought to be quashed by cuts to funding causing job losses.
Fawcett have asked the following questions to the government that have not yet been answered:
- What are they doing to ensure the rights of women are set out in equality, employment and human rights are protected?
- How will it replicate the Violence Against Women and Girls protection and funding that are currently undertaken by the EU?
- How will they 'Keep Pace' with the EU rights post Brexit?
- How will they make sure Brexits impact on the economy will not skewed onto women?
- Will they ensure equal representation at each level of the brexit negotiations?
Gender equality is not a problem of the past. It is happening today.
Lozzy
Information gathered from the follwing sources:
https://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/far-have-womens-rights-advanced-century/
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