Gender

At least as far back as the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, struggles against the inequalities facing women have been made.  The First Wave Women’s Movement led to Women’s suffrage in 1928.  Since then changes to women’s lives in the home, at work and in public life have seen improvements such as more control for women over their bodies with reproductive rights and the recognition of rape in marriage; more economic independence and choice for women as they enter the workplace, and increased political engagement and representation with more women MPs.

Despite these advances however, women still face widespread discrimination and inequalities - 1 in 4 women experience domestic violence over their lifetimes, women earn on average 17% less than men working full-time and there are no Black and Minority Ethnic women police chief constables nor BME women judges in the House of Lords or Court of Appeal.

Legislation

Sex Discrimination Act 1975
The SDA makes it unlawful to discriminate on the grounds of sex in employment, education, advertising or when providing housing, goods, services or facilities. It is unlawful to discriminate because someone is married, in employment or advertisements for jobs. It is also unlawful to discriminate in the employment field on the grounds of gender reassignment, or pregnancy and maternity.

The Equal Pay Act 1970
The EPA stipulates that women must be paid the same as men when they are doing equal work and vice-versa.

Gender Duty, April 2007
The Equality Act 2006 introduces a duty on public authorities to promote equality of opportunity between men and women and to prohibit sex discrimination in the workplace. The Gender Duty (set to come into force in 2007) will mark the most significant change in 30 years for equality between women and men.  The Gender Duty will be a legal requirement for all Public Authorities in England, Wales and Scotland to eliminate discrimination and to actively promote equality between women and men. For more information visit the EOC website.

Regional

For latest information in the South West go to our networks (age, disability, gender, race, faith and sexual orientation).