Sex and Power report reveals fewer women in positions of power and influence

The Equality and Human Rights Commission's annual report looking at women in top positions of power and influence across the public and private sectors, suggests a worrying trend of reversal or stalled progress - with only a few significant increases.

There are fewer women MPs in Westminster, where they make up just 19.3 percent of all MPs.

The Commission has likened women's progress to a snail's pace. A snail could crawl the entire length of the Great Wall of China in 212 years, only slightly longer than the 200 years it will take for women to be equally represented in Parliament.

Nicola Brewer, the Chief Executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said:
'Young women's aspiration is in danger of giving way to frustration. Many of them are now excelling at school and are achieving great things in higher education. And they are keen to balance a family with a rewarding career. But workplaces forged in an era of 'stay at home mums' and 'breadwinner dads' are putting too many barriers in the way - resulting in an avoidable loss of talent at the top.'

‘We always speak of a glass ceiling. These figures reveal that in some cases it appears to be made of reinforced concrete. We need radical change to support those who are doing great work and help those who want to work better and release talent.’

'The Commission’s report argues that today's findings are not just a 'women's issue' but are a powerful symptom of a wider failure. The report asks in what other ways are old-fashioned, inflexible ways of working preventing Britain from tapping into talent - whether that of women or other under-represented groups such as disabled people, ethnic minorities or those with caring responsibilities. Britain cannot afford to go on marginalising or rejecting talented people who fail to fit into traditional work patterns.'

Download the reports here:

Sex and Power 2008:
www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/sex_and_power_2008_pdf.pdf

Sex and Power Scotland: www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/sex_and_power_2008_scotland.pdf

Who Runs Wales? 2009: www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/download_ehrc_who_runs_wales_english_section.pdf

Forthcoming conference:

'Why is domestic violence a workplace issue?'
Manchester, Wed. 16th Sept. 2009
http://www.gmemploymentrights.org.uk/uploads/Dawes_informationLeaflet.pdf

Fawcett Society reports that 30,000 pregnant women lose their jobs per year

It is estimated that 30,000 women lose their job each year simply because they are pregnant. This is illegal discrimination but women are let down by weak equality legislation, and this action is actually on the rise due to the recession.The Fawcett Society and other organisations have noted an increase in the number of calls they are receiving from pregnant women, or women on maternity leave who have been identified for redundancy in the recession. As a result, Fawcett have established the 'Alliance Against Pregnancy Discrimination' to campaign and provide advice and support: http://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/documents/AllianceAgainstPregnancyDiscrimination.pdf

The Alliance calls for Government and employers to actively enforce the law prohibiting workplace discrimination on pregnancy related grounds and for Government not to weaken the law on pregnancy discrimination in the Equality Bill.Do you need advice on pregnancy discrimination?The employment discrimination team at solicitors Leigh Day will give 10 minutes' free advice if you suspect you have recently been made redundant on these grounds. Contact them here: http://www.leighday.co.uk/news/news-archive/is-the-recession-affecting-women-more-than-men-1

Recent articles from The Times on planned changes to parenting legislation (subsequently scrapped by Peter Mandelson in favour of business chiefs):

18/06/09 The evolution of fatherhood The roles of men and women at home and at work are now changing so rapidly that they will share child-rearing duties equally in the near future, a new film argues. We look at the evolution of fatherhood and asks if guys are ready for it: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/men/article6522170.ece

30/03/09
Cut in maternity leave to give fathers more time off
Watchdog demands greater equality for parents:
http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/families/article5998884.ece

30/03/09
Time off after childbirth ‘to be shared more fairly between men and women’:
http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/families/article5999158.ece

Welcome!

This is the first posting of what I hope will be an enormously successful blogtastic adventure!