‘Caring’ roles undervalued so let’s lift women off the breadline
Ahead of International Women’s Day this Sunday, Liz Saville Roberts, Plaid Cymru’s Westminster leader and MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, argues that the UK Government is failing to create a society where people are valued for ‘caring’
FOR some women in some jobs, International Women’s Day is a celebration of progress, but for many it remains a reminder of the persistent reality of gender inequality.
There has of course been progress: more women are in work, attitudes towards working women have shifted and there is an increasing acceptance that, even if we aren’t there yet, equality between men and women is just and right. But when it comes to poverty, women are still disproportionately affected.
In 2019, the average annual earnings of women in Wales were £18,548 compared to £27,013 for men, bearing in mind that more women than men work part-time. Even in terms of full-time wages, women in Wales earn on average £4,600 less than men.
Of course, poverty affects both men and women – 700,000 people earn less than the minimum wage in Wales: inwork poverty is an issue that affects all parts of society.
But the underlying problem is that high-status jobs are high-salaried jobs, while low-status jobs are low-salary jobs.
It is not a coincidence that high-status jobs in our society – such as finance and technology – are those which have traditionally been done by men, while jobs that have traditionally been done by women, such as raising children or caring for family members, are simply not well-valued.
Women in these jobs are often brushed aside, ignored and accused of not doing enough to lift themselves and their families out of poverty.
The vital work carers do in looking after the most vulnerable in society is not reflected in how much they are paid, the support they are given or the security of their jobs. This is despite the fact that more and more people are dependent upon care workers.
This is not a zero-sum game. The good news is that everyone is a winner if those poorly paid women, stuck in those stark poverty statics, are given the chance of a life beyond the breadline.
Men and women both benefit from a wealthier society, which is why the fight for a fair deal for women should matter to everyone. But the UK Government, unfortunately, does not seem to recognise this.
The recent immigration proposals put forward by Johnson’s government do nothing but reinforce these negative attitudes towards the social care sector as salaries are prioritised over skills.
In light of the UK Government’s immigration plans the fourth-biggest provider of home care for the elderly, Mears Group, which has 30 branches across the UK, abandoned its domiciliary services.
The low pay, gruelling hours and the appalling work conditions had proved to be unbearable and were set to be made even worse by the UK Government’s plans.
The consequence of this will be that more women will have to shoulder the caring work that the crumbling care service will no longer be able to do– pushing more women into poverty.
The solution is clear. We must take a hard look at the values of a society which places more value and status on those workers who look after machines rather than on those whose job is to look after people.
The UK Government can lead the charge for this cultural change by shifting their economic priorities to give fair and equal pay to those who do the necessary work of caring for people in our society.
They must accept responsibility for the grave effects that their policies have had on increasing the levels of poverty women face.
International Women’s Day should not come and go without seriously reflecting on past assumptions about gender roles and their impact today. This is essential if we are to achieve meaningful and lasting changes that will improve in-work poverty for women.
It is time for Westminster to make plans to devolve welfare and universal credit to the Senedd so Wales may firmly confront the issue of poverty and meet the distinct needs of women in Wales.
Boris Johnson won the election on a promise of “levelling up” and solving the inequalities that exist between the nations and regions of the UK.
International Women’s Day is an opportunity for him to show that he means to include women in this vision too.