10 years fighting for justice but we still have far to go
THE anger generated by revelations about sexual exploitation of women in Hollywood shows that everyday sexism is a common experience for many women.
The story has grown to include allegations in Westminster, Holyrood, the BBC and the legal profession.
This was underlined by a BBC poll last week which found that half of the women surveyed, and a fifth of men, reported being sexually harassed at work.
Their experiences ranged from lewd comments to sexual assaults – a quarter reported that they had been subjected to sexualised “jokes”, or “banter” and one in seven had been “inappropriately touched”.
At the EHRC we have been addressing this, and other unacceptable behaviour, for the last decade. During that time, we have been fighting for equality and justice for people facing discrimination because of their sex, ethnicity, disability or other personal characteristics.
I have been reflecting on these issues a lot as the EHRC celebrates its 10th birthday.
It’s easy sometimes to focus on the huge progress that some groups have made. Recently there were more openly gay party leaders than straight ones – something unimaginable 10 years ago.
LGBT people are no longer living in the closet but are able to be open and proud of their sexuality. However, our fight is far from over.
In some ways Harvey Weinstein has done us a favour by reminding us that sexual harassment and discrimination are alive in our society.
Now, of course, women know that sexual harassment is an unwelcome but common part of their lives in the UK today. Being propositioned at work or harassed online, remains common. All women know this but men often fail to recognise this for what it is.
So, while I would love to be able to be able to say that our work is done and we have slayed the beasts of sexism and racism, sadly I can’t. In Scotland today, if you are born into an ethnic minority family you are twice as likely to be unemployed and to live in poverty. If you are disabled, you are half as likely to be in work. If you are a woman, your pay is about 17 per cent less than men’s – irrespective of your talents or efforts.
These issues affect us all. Scotland can’t afford discrimination. It’s bad for business, bad for the economy and bad for everyone.
So, as the champion of equality and human rights in Britain, what are we doing about it?
Over the past 10 years, we’ve won the right for flexible working so parents can care for their disabled children. We’ve won cases against businesses that discriminate against gay people.
Right now, we are supporting a husband and wife denied permission to adopt because of their race. We have protected the right of disabled people to live independently and, recently, helped to end employment tribunal fees.
But, remarkably in 2017 we estimate that 5500 women in Scotland will be pushed out of their jobs just because they are having a child.
People with mental health problems will die of diseases others get treated for.
The Scottish Government has introduced some important and innovative policies. Basing the new social security system on human rights principles, making poverty a key public policy issue, and making flexible working a right for all of their employees are all significant moves but there is still more to be done.
But no matter how progressive we might appear, sometimes just under the surface prejudice and discrimination continue to thrive. The EHRC will take the lead but it’s the responsibility of us all to end it, once and for all.