I think 2018 is an important year it's
the centenary of when women were first
given the right to vote in this country
it took another 10 years for them to get
the vote on the same terms as men and
then 50 years ago in 1968 it was the
strike by the sewing-machinists at Ford
Dagenham that led to the Equality Act in
1970 and this was the first legislation
that talked about equality and it's
remarkable that 48 years later women
still earn less than men I think the law
can provide a framework for equality but
what we need is real equality that
matters on a day to day basis we need to
tackle unconscious bias and stereotyping
which often starts at early age in our
school years and it's the subjects that
girls are encouraged to take and study
and the career paths that they are
encouraged to follow and more
importantly it's how women are perceived
in the workplace you know once they
decide to have children flexible working
is great but in 2018 I only have the
right to request flexible working I
don't have the right to work flexibly
you know the Equality and Human Rights
Commission estimates the 54 thousand
mothers a year are forced to leave their
jobs after they become pregnant that's a
serious waste of talent in this country
I think the gender pay gap in the UK is
largely attributable to the fact that
women have childcare and caring
responsibilities this pay gap widens for
women in their mid-thirties and this is
probably likely because this is the age
when women have childcare or carrying
responsibilities and it's at this point
in their careers they request flexible
working and if you are fortunate enough
to get sent flexible working sometimes
you know women can develop a sense of
gratitude and gratefulness sort of sets
in not wanting to rock the boat what in
what was once a career with good
prospects can soon become a job where
the
trajectory and this is where the pay gap
grows and widens I think there needs to
be proper investment into high quality
and affordable childcare we need to have
better paid leave provisions for fathers
and carers and importantly I think we
need to have paid transparency gender
pay gap reporting is not enough sadly
you know in my lifetime women will not
be paid equally with men I hope in my
son's lifetime it might happen equality
is a struggle but equality is about
dignity and equality is our right equal
means equal
