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