Promoting better work and social enterprise for women - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Promoting better work and social enterprise for women

Improving Women’s Economic Position and Local Economic Problems at a time of Recession

ANGELA O’HAGANSlide2

“The differential impact on women versus men

willvary across countries. The effects depend on the

gender job segregation in a country. In developed

economies, in which men have dominated in construction and durable goods

manufacturing

industries that have been hardest hit by sharp drop in demand, mounting job losses have affected men more than women. But women, too, will beaffected in coming months. Female joblessnesscan be expected to rise disproportionately aspublic sector budget cuts are made, since women are disproportionately employed in education, health, and social services,”(Seguino, 2009).

Global Perspective on the Gender Impact of the Financial CrisisSlide3

“with

the recession there is some indication that existing gains, including those in legislation, may be lost,”

(Prof. Diane Perrons, LSE)

“Gender equality is at risk if the downturn is used as a reason to slowdown progress on equality policies or even to rethink policies

that help women on the labour market,”

(Smith, 2009). “Productivity and fairness are not alternates, but both are necessary for the realisation of the other,” (Sylvia Walby, UNESCO Chair in Gender Research)Why gender matters in local economic developmentSlide4

Tackling occupational segregation and gender pay gap are questions of policy for gender justice and productivity and economic growth (Walby, 2007).The links between women’s low pay and poverty, and the economic inefficiency of under-valuing women’s work (TUC,2008).

Productivity and fairnessSlide5

Horizontal – workforce is made up of mostly one genderVertical – opportunities for advancement by a particular gender are limited (similar to ‘glass ceiling’)

Restricts freedom of choiceMaintains sex stereotypingRestricts choice for businessIncreases skills deficiencies

Maintains undervaluationContributes to the pay gapInflexible working (lack of options)Undervaluing of roles and occupations (‘women's work’ of low/no value)

Occupational SegregationSlide6

Occupational segregationDiscriminationEffect

of caring on earningsMarket failureStandard productivity measuresLegislative

frameworkGender Pay GapSlide7

Elements of the Pay Gap

Olsen and Walby (2003)Olsen and Walby (2004)

Education (6%)Segregation (13%)

Discrimination and being female (29%)Full time employment experience (26%)Interruptions due to caring (15%)Part time employment experience (12%)Slide8

A tale of two policies

Modern Apprenticeships

Close the Gap

27,520 MAs, 2008

22% women

Vocational and skills areas: construction, engineering, childcare, health and social care, managementEngineering: £20.4m – men; £297k - womenChildcare: £5.47m – women; £54.5k - menMen, £69:Women,£1Initially funded under EQUAL, 2002Scottish Government funded to promote equal pay, tackle pay gap and occupational segregationMinisterial priority under Gender Equality DutyCross-Directorate Working Group on occupational segregationGender Equality Scheme, Annual Report 2010Slide9

Assume gender neutralityResult in gender-blind policies and differential outcomesRequire gender-aware analysis

Trans-national (G20, UN), European Union, National and regional/local levelRole of civil society

Policy ResponsesSlide10

Governance and Decision-MakingSupport for Industrial Sectors and Companies

Supporting Labour MarketsSupporting InvestmentSupporting Household Purchasing PowerCredit

(Source: Walby, (2009): Auditing the gender implications of recovery policies for the financial and economic crisis)

Mainstreaming Gender in Local Economic Development PlansSlide11

Gender MainstreamingInvolvement of all actors in policy process

Disaggregated dataPolicy appraisalEquality impact assessmentsGender Budget Analysis

Time Use AnalysisGender AuditsGender Pay Audits

Tools of AnalysisSlide12

“What is the gender composition of employment in the industrial sectors and companies that are given financial support?“Is training supportive of women’s access to non-standard occupations, or does it reinforce existing patterns of occupational segregation?

“Do considerations of infrastructure investment include human capital as well as fixed?” Is education included as well as transport? Is attention on ICT development extended to a more inclusive concept of knowledge economy?

What are the gendered effects of variances in taxes and have the gendered consequences been identified and mitigated?What are the gendered implications of variances in access to credit arrangements?

Gender Audit Questions Slide13

CapabilitiesLocal authority responsibilities and functionsModena

, 2003; Emiglia-Romagna, 2004; Bologna, 2007; Piedmont, 2007; Lazio, 2008;Rome Drawn from work by

Tindarra Addabbo, Antonella Picchio

et al, and Annalisa Rosselli on SienaGender and Wellbeing BudgetsSlide14

Access to knowledgeCapability to live a health lifeCapability to work and carry on business

Access to public resources (services/transfers)To live and work in adequate and secure places and in an eco-compatible environmentTo travel

Caring for othersCaring for oneselfParticipating in public life and living in an equitable society

Capabilities in functions of Province of RomeSlide15

Gender equality is a policy goalGender equality is a legal requirementReducing labour market rigidities like occupational segregation and discrimination leads to improved economic growth and productivity

Gender equality analysis means more effectively targeted policy interventions and outcomes.

Why gender matters in local economic developmentSlide16

Thank you

Angela O’HaganGlasgow Caledonian University