For Better or Worse: Tackling Women's and Men's Poverty in Regeneration
For Better or Worse: Tackling Women's and Men's Poverty in Regeneration
For Better or Worse: Tackling Women's and Men's Poverty in Regeneration
OR FOR WORSE?
TACKLING WOMENS AND MENS POVERTY IN REGENERATION
Conference Report
24 MAY 2007, GLASGOW
WHY ARE WOMEN PAYING A
HEAVIER PRICE FOR POVERTY?
Throughout their lifetimes, women all over the
We cant stop until world are at much greater risk of being
trapped in poverty than men. And even in the
weve brought this UK, women are suffering from this injustice.
This perception is threatening young shown that they can pursue the
womens job prospects and severely careers that are right for them, Jean Smith stands outside what used to be the trade entrance to the Daks Simpson factory, Larkhall, where
she used to work
limiting their potential levels of pay. They regardless of their gender.
cant look forward to a brighter future if For this to happen, we need to keep
this belief is perpetuated by a system challenging the stereotyped attitudes of Jean Smith lives with her partner and despite applying for almost 30 different jobs,
that only offers them such jobs. teachers, careers staff, employers, and two children in Larkhall, South Lanarkshire, she has yet to be given an interview.
political leaders as well as young in Scotland.
The fight against gender inequality Thats shocking. I dont understand it.
people themselves. Jean worked for fifteen years as a machinist
and stereotyping needs to start in the Whats the point in putting you through
at the Daks Simpson textiles factory in
classroom. Young people need to be all that training and everything when
Larkhall. The factory closed in 2002, after theres nothing at the end?
laying off hundreds of workers for several
years beforehand. It was the biggest employer
Research shows that UK labour markets are
in Larkhall, and the majority of its workforce 1
highly gendered. Women are often
was female.
concentrated in low status, insecure jobs in
When Jean had her first child she wanted to low-paid sectors such as catering, retail,
continue working at Daks, and approached the clerical, and care work. The negative
company about job-sharing. She felt this effects of this segregation are even worse
would have been a good way to stay in work when the types of training offered to
and keep the long-service benefits shed built women dont reflect the actual jobs
up over the years. But, despite applying available in an area.
several times, she was told that Daks wouldnt
allow it. Flexible, secure working is the key to
enabling women and men to balance paid
Gender stereotyping affects the So that was that. I left. That was over
work and caring responsibilities, but thats
sixteen years ago.
still far from a reality for many.
life chances of young people Since then, Jean has re-trained as a nursery 1
Gender and Employment in Local Labour Markets
nurse. She qualified two years ago, but Research Programme, Final Report October 2006.
Simon Cameron, Whats With Work Programme Coordinator, Professor Sue Yeandle, Centre for Social Inclusion,
South Lanarkshire Council Sheffield Hallam University
Confidence-building is vital We need effective leadership
to enable women to see the power f rom all sectors, but particularly
within themselves to make a f rom political leaders
difference in their own lives and said Yvonne Strachan, Head of Equalities at the Scottish Executive.
challenge the lower status attributed to womens work which keeps women
trapped in low-paid jobs, with little prospect of progression
look at poverty within the household as this often reveals that women
experience less power and greater poverty
Photo: Chris Worrall/Oxfam
Offering people limited, often Around the world, women are the shock
Photo: Chris Worrall/Oxfam
stereotyped opportunities does not absorbers of poverty. And they are often
maximise the potential of either women the worst affected by poverty within their
or men. Oxfam calls on the new families and communities. This is
Government for Scotland to ensure that frequently overlooked or ignored and
gender stereotypes and discrimination not reflected in local decision-
do not undermine the development of a making structures.
Yvonne Smith window shopping for cars in Blantyre skilled workforce, or the building of a
Community Planning Partners need to
robust economy.
address gender inequality more
Yvonne Smith lives in Blantyre, South I get about 80 a week. Thats carers Key public bodies in Scotland, like the consciously and robustly when
Lanarkshire. She is the main carer for allowance and income support. Getting Scottish Executive, Communities developing their local outcome
her dad. a car is a necessity, it isnt just a luxury, Scotland, Audit Scotland and the agreements targeted at deprived areas.
but its so much money to put into it.
Local transport has a major impact on Convention of Scottish Local They also need to consider this when
Yvonnes life. Her caring responsibilities mean Authorities have specific roles and planning, allocating and monitoring
that she needs to make frequent, short trips Studies of transport use in the UK have responsibilities to make sure that resources, such as the Community
around the area, which is not well-served by consistently shown that womens travel is regeneration strategies and spending Regeneration Fund, and when
the single bus route that runs through more likely to be linked to caring and family ensure both women and men living in developing and implementing
Blantyre to Hamilton and Glasgow. responsibilities, which often entails areas of deprivation have access to community engagement strategies.
irregular journeys that do not conform to the services and resources.
commuter-centered structure of most public Community planning structures and
Its alright if youre wanting to go to
transport systems. Job Centre Plus and Scottish engagement strategies need to reflect
Glasgow, Yvonne says, but I feel as if I
waste a lot of time waiting. Enterprise have a key responsibility to and represent the often diverse roles of
ensure that programmes and initiatives women and men in deprived
Women are also more reliant overall on
Yvonne doesnt qualify for a concessionary targeted at increasing the job prospects communities, to maximise the expertise
public transport and walking, generally
bus pass as a carer, and as her dad is not travel shorter distances, and are less likely of people living in deprived and experience of both.
well enough to use the bus, she ends up to have access to a private car than men.1 communities take into account the
Decision-makers should recognise the
spending a large amount of money on taxis different lives and experiences of
These differences in need are not catered contribution of women to improving their
simply to do things like shopping and visiting women and men. In particular, they have
for in planning and transport systems that communities. In the developing world,
the doctor. a role to play in challenging
heavily favour car users and those working the importance of tackling womens
Yvonne is working towards getting her driving a rigid nine-to-five week. stereotyping in training and
poverty more widely is well-recognised.
licence, and hopes to get a car at some point. employment, opening up opportunities
In rich countries we need to see this too.
She has failed her practical test five times,
1
Towards Gender Sensitive Transport Services, for both women and men.
Gender and Engagement in Manchester (GEM)
and so far has spent 842.50 on driving Project, 2007 Oxfam calls on these organisations to
lessons and fees to sit her test. adopt an overt commitment to gender
equality in regeneration and
employability strategies.
Oxfam works to overcome poverty all over the world.
Millions of people in the UK don't have enough money to
live on. Oxfam believes that in a rich country this is
completely unacceptable. Thats why we work in the UK.
Zoe Smith
ReGender Manager
Tel: 0161 860 4021
Email: [email protected]
UK Poverty
494 Wilbraham Road
Chorlton
Manchester
M21 9AS