Gender Equality Issues

Introduction

Research shows persistent gender inequalities in Scotland. In the main, women are more adversely affected, though in some instances the position of boys and men is disadvantaged compared to girls and women. Some examples follow :

• Women have a disproportionate share of caring responsibilities which in turn influences labour market participation, with women often being in paid work only intermittently or in long-term part-time work which impacts on pay, promotion and income in retirement.
• Low pay and poverty remain as significant issues affecting both men and women. However there is still a gap in earnings between men and women and women make up the majority of those on benefits with lone parents and lone pensioners particularly vulnerable to poverty.
• While girls have overtaken boys in educational performance, this advantage has not yet carried through to the labour market. Girls and boys still tend to follow traditional subject choices at school, which in turn leads to “traditional” career choices such as nursing for women and engineering for men. For boys and girls who leave school with few or no qualifications, young women tend to work in low paid, low skill jobs while young men are more likely to suffer unemployment.
• Significant numbers of women continue to experience domestic abuse from a male partner. It is estimated that domestic abuse will be experienced by 1 in 5 women in their lifetime. This in turn impacts on health and may lead to homelessness.
• Men are more likely than women to commit offences and receive a custodial sentence.
• In overall terms, women continue to have a greater life expectancy than men.

Gender Equality Scheme

The background to the Gender Equality Scheme is the Equality Act 2006.  The law places a duty on the Council, when carrying out its policies and functions, to have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination and harassment, and promote equality of opportunity between men and women.  This obligation is the gender equality duty.  The Scheme sets out the actions that the Council will take to meet the gender equality duty.

To view a copy of the document please click on the link below:

• Gender Equality Scheme

To download the progress report on the Gender Equalities Scheme 2007-10, please click on the link below.

• Gender Equalities Scheme 2007-10 Progress Report
  

One of the requirements of the gender equality duty is that the Council publishes a statement setting out its equal pay policy.  The policy statement sets out how the Council intends to tackle unequal pay.

• Equal Pay Policy Statement

For more information on gender equality issues, please contact:

Louise MacKenzie

Principal Corporate Policy Officer

Phone: 0141 287 3841 

E-mail:  

louise.mackenzie@ced.glasgow.gov.uk

Violence Against Women

Glasgow Community and Safety Services (GCSS) takes takes the lead role in the Council policy work and practice development in relation to Violence Against Women.  The approach is wide ranging and improving service responses in respect of women that have been trafficked.

Further information can be accessed by following the undernoted link:

• Rape and Sexual Assault Handbook

For more information on Violence against Women issues please contact:

Debs Nicholson

Violence Against Woman Manager

Glasgow Community and Safety Services

Phone: 0141 276 7728

E-mail: deb.nicholson@drs.glasgow.gov.uk

16 Days of Action

Glasgow Community and Safety Services coordinates activity around 16 Days of Action to Eliminate Violence Against Women.  For further information on 16 Days of Action, click on the link provided.

Publications and Research

Glasgow City Council and Strathclyde Police, working with Hemat Gryffe Women's Aid, commissioned research into domestic abuse and forced marriages within black and ethnic minority communities in Glasgow.  The findings of the research, entitled Right To Choose?, a copy of this report can be downloaded by clicking on the link provided.

The following reports were commissioned by Glasgow Violence Against Women Partnership:

• Positive responses to domestic abuse within seeking communities
• Domestic abuse and the 2 year rule briefing paper

Glasgow's interagency childrens services planning structure recently commissioned a mapping exercise of service responses to domestic abuse.

Mapping service responses to children and young people affected by domestic abuse and other gender based violence.

• Tell Someone - Executive Summary
• Tell Someone - Final Report
• Tell Someone - Literature Review

Prostitution

Information on Prostitution issues can be accessed by following the undernoted link:

• Prostitution