CFE Social Issues Gender Inequality MISOGYNY A number

CFE Social Issues Gender Inequality

MISOGYNY A number of women, including Guardian columnist Hadley Freeman, Independent columnist Grace Dent and Europe editor of Time magazine Catherine Mayer, have reported threatening and abusive behaviour on Twitter. Misogyny is alive and well. Online abuse of women

DON’T GO OUT ALONE Recent years have seen a marked increase in sexual attacks on women. Scottish Government statistics show that rapes rose by 19% during the year 2011 -12, and collectively with attempted rapes, there was a rise of 13% in reported incidents of these crimes. In response to the increase in violence and ill-judged comments by a police officer, some 200 people marched in Glasgow’s first ever “Slut Walk” in protest at the belief that rape victims "ask for it“. Scotland has been criticised for having one of Europe's lowest conviction rates. The Scottish Government has passed the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act in an attempt to improve rape conviction rates.

DOMESTIC ABUSE There were 51, 926 incidents of domestic abuse in Scotland recorded by the police in 2009 -10. Women are far more likely to be victims than men, with incidents involving a female victim and a male perpetrator representing 82% of reported incidents. Many women never report the abuse to police. This is partly because the abuse may not be physical and may not constitute a 'crime'.

Police Scotland has taken steps to prioritise domestic violence. It has set up a specialist domestic abuse task force, made up of 25 officers. Chief Constable Stephen House has supported the claim that tackling domestic abuse is comparable to the fight against terrorism. “In most people’s view, the two are completely different forms of violence. But they share quite a lot in common. The central part is that domestic abuse also functions largely through fear” Professor Rachel Pain. ‘Clare’s Law’ has been piloted in England will be piloted in Scotland. It is named after Clare Wood, who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend in Salford, Greater Manchester, in 2009. Clare’s Law

GENDER STEREOTYPING Some claim that there is a “pink collar” ghetto of low paid occupations revolving around the caring professions. Women are stereotyped as carers and men as “breadwinners”. Those who break these stereotypes, be it men who take caring responsibilities for children, or women in traditionally “male” jobs, often encounter social isolation or sexist “banter”.

THE PAY GAP “At the current rate, it will take at least another two decades to close the pay gap. Women who work full time will earn on average £ 330, 000 less than a man over their working lives – that’s the price of a family home. It’s amazing that we still think this is something that a decent society can live with” Trevor Phillips, Chair of Equality and Human Rights Commission The Fawcett Society has named November 7 as Equal Pay Day, claiming that because of the average 14. 9% pay gap, women are effectively working for nothing for the rest of the year.

CLOSING THE GAP? In 2013, the gender pay gap rose for the first time in five years, and now stands at 19. 1% for all employees. More than 820, 000 more women have moved into low paid, insecure jobs since the start of the recession in 2008. The Fawcett Society's survey of 1, 000 low paid women found that almost half felt worse off than five years ago and nearly one in 10 had taken out a loan from a pay day lender in the past year.

SEX AND POWER REPORT 2013 The Report found that • 22. 5% of MPs are women • 21. 7% of peers(members of the House of Lords) • 17. 4% of the Cabinet. Women make up 13. 3% of elected mayors and 14. 6 percent of Police and Crime Commissioners. 36. 4% of public appointments are women 13. 6% of the senior judiciary 5% of Editors of national daily newspapers There are no women at all on the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee; women hold just 11. 1% of UK Bank Chief Executive positions and 17. 3% of FTSE 100 Director positions.

THE GLASS CEILING Girls and young women are outperforming males at all educational levels. They are moving into an expanding range of occupations, and building successful careers. The gender pay gap is narrowing. But for many this all comes to an abrupt halt when childcare comes into the working week. Mary Gregory, Oxford University The glass ceiling is one of the reasons for gender inequality. A study in 2008 by the Royal Economic Society found that professional and managerial women who became mothers moved down the job ladder after returning from having a child. 2/3 took clerical or lower skilled jobs.

THE GLASS CEILING 73% of women managers believe there are barriers preventing them from progressing to top levels – the glass ceiling Source: Ambition and gender at work, Institute of Leadership & Management, 2011

THE GLASS CEILING 17% of women believe that raising or caring for children has presented barriers to career development, compared to 7% of men Source: Ambition and gender at work, Institute of Leadership & Management, 2011

THE EQUALITY ACT 2010 The Equality Act 2010 has replaced the Equal Pay Act, the Sex Discrimination Act and other gender equal opportunities acts: Gender is a “protected characteristic”. Discrimination; when "someone is treated less favourably than another person because of a protected characteristic” remains very illegal. One of the reasons for bringing in the Equality Act was the fact that the existing laws were failing to crack the glass ceiling.

PROTECTED CHARACTERISTICS The Equality Act makes it unlawful to discriminate (treat less favourably) anyone directly or indirectly because of a protected characteristic. The nine protected characteristics are 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. age disability gender reassignment marriage and civil partnership pregnancy and maternity race (a group of people defined by their race, colour and nationality (including citizenship) ethnic or national origins 7. religion or belief (including lack of belief e. g. atheism) 8. gender 9. sexual orientation

THE EQUALITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (EHRC) The EHRC has the responsibility of trying to make sure the Equality Act 2010 works. It offers advice to organisations on how to create equal; opportunities advising all of their rights at work, in education and as consumers.

POSITIVE ACTION ON RACE OR GENDER As a result of the Equality Act 2010, employers are now able to take “positive action” in order to minimise disadvantage by people who share a protected characteristic e. g. gender or race. This could be to reduce their under-representation relating to particular activities or their particular needs. It means targeting assistance to people, not giving them a job just because of their gender or race. But, if an employer has two candidates of equal merit, it can choose on the basis of their protected characteristic in order to create a more representative workforce.

HAS THE 2010 EQUALITY ACT GONE TOO FAR? Is the new, tougher, legislation necessary to overcome inequalities or has “political correctness gone too far”?

WORK OF “EQUAL VALUE” It is not just women in professional jobs who face inequalities. Women are overwhelmingly concentrated in low paid jobs. Under the Equalities Act, a claim for equal pay may be made by either a woman or a man claiming equal pay with one or more “comparators” of the other sex. Scottish councils are now facing a £ 12 million equal pay bill after female school workers in Dumfries & Galloway won a landmark ruling at the UK Supreme Court in June 2013. The women, including classroom assistants, learning assistants and nursery nurses, argued they had been denied bonuses routinely given to workers in jobs predominantly done by men, such as groundsmen, refuse collectors, drivers and leisure attendants.

BREAKING THE GLASS CEILING: LAW Elish Angiolini was the Lord Advocate, Scotland top law officer until May 2011 Morag Mc. Lintock is head of the Procurator Fiscal service for the Borders. Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws, QC FRSA, She is a barrister, broadcaster and Labour member of the House of Lords.

BREAKING THE GLASS CEILING: BUSINESS “It’s easy to let life’s obstacles stand in the way of your success, instead of seeing every experience as something to learn from. ” Michelle Mone Co-owner MJM International Michelle Mone: Take it on

BREAKING THE GLASS CEILING: BUSINESS “More well-qualified women are now coming up through the ranks. We will therefore see a radical change over the next generation as those who previously had limited opportunities and exposure in the business arena can now make the next step on the career ladder. ” Nosheena Mobarik, Chair, CBI Scotland

BREAKING THE GLASS CEILING: THE POLICE In 2013, women accounted for 28 of “officer” posts, up from 18 per cent in 2003. They made up a fifth (20%) of all promoted posts, up from just 8% a decade before. But fears have been expressed that Scotland’s new single police force has created “additional barriers” for female officers aiming to progress through the ranks. “Mobility protection” has been removed. Some officers with childcare and other home commitments fear promotion could force them to move anywhere in the country.

BREAKING THE GLASS CEILING: POLITICS Nicola Sturgeon and Fiona Hyslop are in the Scottish Cabinet. Caroline Lucas is the Green Party’s first MP. Johanna Boyd is leader of Stirling Council. (Scotland has 32 local councils, only 2 of which are led by women. )

A REPRESENTATIVE PARLIAMENT? Theresa May, Home Secretary Jo Swinson, Liberal Democrat, East Dunbartonshire. Just 22. 5% of MPs are female. The number of Labour women has fallen from 94 to below 80 – about 30% of Labour MPs. The number of Conservative women has risen from 18 to about 48 – about 16% of Conservative MPs. The number of Liberal Democrat women has fallen from 9 to 7 – about 13% of Liberal Democrat MPs. The number of SNP MPs stayed the same, 1, 16. 7%.

IS THE FUTURE FEMALE? SQA Higher Passes, A-C (pre-appeal) by gender, 2012 90, 000 80, 000 70, 000 60, 000 50, 000 Male 40, 000 Female 30, 000 20, 000 10, 000 0 2011 2012 2013