The idea that women suddenly became ambitious during the last century is one of the biggest myths of our economy and society. Women have always worked. We’ve always wanted the best for ourselves and our families. It’s just a far greater number of women are now actually paid for work they do.
But Covid-19 has stopped that progress in its tracks. When women have had to bear the brunt of an unequal economy for generations, it’s hardly a shock that they have had to make huge sacrifices over the course of the pandemic. It’s led to what's been described as a 'she-cession': the figures show it is mothers who are more likely to have quit or lost their job, or been furloughed, since March.
Black, Asian and minority ethnic women in particular are facing acute pressures, and are more likely to be in insecure and low-paid work. Working from home has brought some benefits but the burden of domestic work has still fallen disproportionately on women. And now we are in another lockdown, working parents are once again caught between work and childcare responsibilities unless the Government makes clear what support is available to them.
Balancing family and careers, women are taking the bulk of caring responsibilities. This is not a new phenomenon. But the progress we have made is undeniable and it’s too precious to be lost. The last Labour government recognised that supporting women in the workplace isn’t only good for women and families – it’s smart economics. We improved access to affordable childcare, and strengthened rights and protections at work. Guess what? The economy grew.
Decisions taken by the Conservatives have let women down time and again since the pandemic began.
In stark contrast, decisions taken by the Conservatives have let women down time and again since the pandemic began. Early year and childcare providers – already under huge financial pressure before Covid hit – will lose even more funding this year. A cut of £20 a week to Universal Credit from April means many single parent families will lose a huge proportion of their monthly income overnight. And at a time when healthcare is in the spotlight at the top of the agenda, women were having to give birth alone for months before anyone in government noticed.
These choices show progress is always fragile, and that we always need to defend it. But ensuring women have an equal shot isn’t just morally right – it is also essential for a successful economy. That’s why we must turn our attention to recovery and rebuilding now.
I want to live in a post-pandemic world that enables women to realise their ambitions. If we cannot achieve that, we’ll have let half of our population down. So how can we ensure the fortunes of women in Britain are not set back by the pandemic?
Firstly, we need to safeguard opportunities by getting control of the virus, and redouble efforts to rollout the vaccine, so we can save jobs and businesses. If jobs are there, then we must make sure women have the time to take them up.
Secondly, we need to recognise that childcare isn’t just a nice-to-have – it’s a vital piece of national infrastructure that can help our whole economy recover. The UK has some of the highest childcare costs in the developed world. It needs to be affordable and accessible. If people can work, our collective output will be greater. It’s not rocket science.
Thirdly, once we ensure women have time to do the jobs available, we must make sure women have the skills to get them in the first place. History tells us that when an economy undergoes huge changes, it is often women – and particularly older women - who lose out. Reskilling and retraining must be inclusive.
And once we ensure that the jobs are there, and that women have the time to do them and the skills to get them, they must be able to have the same pay and progression expectations that their male colleagues enjoy. Recovery is an opportunity to rebuild and fix the things in our society that weren’t working before.
I want Britain to be the best country to grow up in and the best country to grow old in. For that, we will need a much more ambitious vision for the country than what the Tories have ever set out. And the economic strategy that makes it happen will be much less effective if it’s designed without women in mind.
Women are counting on equal pay, fair treatment in the office and support when their families need it. We owe it to women across the UK to put their ambition at the heart of our recovery plan. Only then, can Britain succeed for every one of us.