What About Women?
by Laura Woodhouse // 16 March 2010, 10:42
The Fawcett Society's What About Women? campaign is designed to push gender equality onto the political parties' agendas in the run-up to the election. Fawcett have asked the parties a series of questions on women and the economy, work and family life, crime and justice, democracy and political reform, attitudes and media culture, and equality and human rights. The responses will be published on their website. At present you can hear from the Greens and the Scottish National Party.
You can support the campaign in a number of ways and sign up to receive the weekly campaign bulletin with updates, events and weekly actions you can take. The activist pack tells you how you can organise What About Women? hustings in your local area.
Sheffield Fems are hosting a hustings next Tuesday, 23 March, at the Quaker Meeting House, 7.15pm - 10pm, with Labour, Conservative, Lib Dem and Green candidates. Let us know if you're hosting one and we'll add it to our events page.
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Amy Clare // Posted 16 March 2010 at 18:02
This should be interesting... At first glance, it's a bit disappointing that the Greens would limit their equal pay audits to 'large and medium sized companies'. Do employees of small companies not deserve equal pay too?
Shea // Posted 16 March 2010 at 18:52
This is great news. But my first thought when I clicked on this page was that the question was why are ALL three leaders of the main pollitical parties men. Or more accurately pale, male and stale.
All middle and upper class, all hetereosexual (that we know) white men. Plus ca change in politics hey?
Ally // Posted 18 March 2010 at 11:52
@ Amy Clare: it's impossible to deal with equal pay issues in small companies. My ex had a company of 5 people, all of whom were men. That wasn't because of a discriminatory hiring policy it was simply that the owners were him and his friend, one employee was his cousin and the two positions that they actually hired for once they had established the company had all male applicants. If they'd hired a female cleaner, obviously the pay would be unequal, but that would hardly be something that required an inquiry.
earwicga // Posted 18 March 2010 at 18:42
The Fawcett Society have the answers from the political parties and are asking for responses: http://fawcettsociety.org.uk/?PageID=1064
Shea // Posted 18 March 2010 at 18:43
@ Ally - then they need to review their hiring processes and advertise to a wider audience.
Pay discrepancy at every level requires an audit. All the better if it embarasses the directors that their board is made up of men whilst their cleaning staff is all female. Hopefully it will make them more proactive in hiring women.
aimee // Posted 18 March 2010 at 19:10
Do they not understand the irony of that poster!?