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Gender and 'Welfare Reform' in Scotland
Close the Gap has recently been involved in the development of a joint position paper on gender and welfare reform in Scotland. This important piece of work was led by Engender, Scotland’s gender equality organisation, in response to steadily increasing alarm at the impact of the UK government’s welfare reform programme on women in Scotland.
The paper looks at the existing gender inequalities, and finds that women’s unequal position in economic, political and social spheres is set to become further entrenched as a result of welfare reform. Women are facing a unique double jeopardy under the new regime of sanctions introduced by Job Centres. Faced with pressure to participate in employability activity that is supposed to move them closer to the labour market, but unable to secure childcare to allow them to meet the requirements of the programme, women will find themselves subject to sanction.
Close the Gap is also concerned that if employability programmes fail to recognise or include strategies to mitigate occupational segregation, they will simply perpetuate the existing gendered segregation in the Scottish labour market. It is essential that gender issues are mainstreamed into employability and related support services from the outset to avoid this.
This joint paper summarises the way welfare reform will impact on women living in Scotland, and makes recommendations to the Scottish Government on how to mitigate the impact of these changes. It also highlights stories that are emerging from women’s organisations and groups about the impacts of reforms.
Engender, Scottish Women’s Aid, Close the Gap and Scottish Refugee Council are holding an event on Wednesday 2nd April at the Scottish Parliament to launch this paper. You can register for this event here.
Gender and 'Welfare Reform' in Scotland: A Joint Position Paper
Close the Gap newsround (44)
This edition for March captures articles related to the gender pay gap and its causes, including pay discrimination and occupational segregation.
New working paper: Shifting the Balance? Exploring the trade union responses to tackling gendered occupational segregation
Close the Gap has recently launched a new working paper, Shifting the Balance? Exploring the trade union responses to tackling gendered occupational segregation, which aims to assess what work is being undertaken by trade unions to address occupational segregation.
This paper reveals that a small minority of trade unions have been involved in preliminary small-scale efforts to engage on the issue of occupational segregation, but that these efforts are not part of a strategic programme to tackle the issue. Although there is some awareness of the issues around occupational segregation amongst some unions, there is a great need to raise awareness of the issue and its wider impact on women and workplaces.
The paper was launched at an event on 18 February 2014 at the STUC and prompted extensive discussion among the delegates. At the event we heard from Equality Officer Lee James about ASLEF’s campaign to address the under-representation of women among train drivers. Concerns over the lack of diversity within the driving grade prompted ASLEF to fund the independent ‘On Track with Diversity’ Report in 2012. ASLEF have used the report as a lever to open dialogue with train operating companies regarding joint working over their recruitment processes, and they have also been involved in positive discussions over part time working, which is a fundamental shift for the industry.
There is scope for unions to do a lot more on occupational segregation, and any activity must be much more strategic, with measurable outcomes, if women are to achieve equality in the workplace. The paper discusses the causes and impacts of occupational segregation, the challenges facing trade unions in addressing it, and presents examples of individual union activity on the issue.
Close the Gap has also identified a number of opportunities for trade unions to engage on work around occupational segregation. If you would like more information on how you can get involved please contact us.
Hard copies are available from acallaghan@stuc.org.uk
Close the Gap pays tribute to Professor Ailsa McKay
Close the Gap staff and steering group members are deeply saddened by the death of Professor of Ailsa McKay, Chair of the Close the Gap steering group.
Ailsa was a leading feminist economist who contributed immeasurably to the drive for gender equality in Scotland, and beyond. She was a Professor of Economics at Glasgow Caledonian University, where she established the Women in Scotland’s Economy Research Centre. She was a founding member of the Scottish Women’s Budget Group and the European Gender Budget Network. As a member of the Equality Budget Advisory Group, she had a profound impact on the Scottish budget process. She was also instrumental in developing the economic case for free, universal childcare in Scotland.
Close the Gap was privileged to have Ailsa chair its steering group. She provided an invaluable insight intogender budgeting, welfare economics, childcare, and the economics of occupational segregation. She was dedicated to sharing her knowledge of economics and passionate about changing the lives of women in Scotland.
She will be missed by all who strive for a society where women’s contribution to the economy is counted, and valued.
EVENTS: Scotland and UK wide
In this post you will find a selection of up and coming events and programmes relating to gender and women's participation in the labour market.
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