EP69 How Fragile is Women’s Progress Toward Economic Equality? with Laura Farris MP

Laura Farris is the Conservative MP for Newbury and co-chair of The Women and Work All-Party Parliamentary Group.

Following the Chancellor’s 2021 budget announcement on Wednesday, I ask Laura how her party’s government plans to support women who have been left behind during the pandemic, particularly those who failed to receive full SEISS support due to periods of maternity leave and working mothers who have been balancing work and homeschooling.

I put your feedback about the consequences of requesting furlough to Laura, and ask how we can reverse the gendered impact of the pandemic on women’s economic progress, highlighting just how fragile women’s equality is when faced with a crisis.

This conversation was recorded on 4th March 2021.

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Key data:

• Approximately 69,200 self-employed women in the UK with reduced income due to SEISS calculations and eligibility noting exempt periods of maternity
• *72% of mothers have had to work fewer hours because of childcare issues
• *57% of working mothers believed that managing childcare responsibilities alongside their paid work during the pandemic had harmed future career prospects
• *Women are 47% more likely than fathers to have lost their job or quit, and are 14% more likely to have been furloughed
• **36% of young women work in sectors that have been closed, including restaurants, shops and leisure facilities
• **69% of low-paid earners are women, 74% of those in part-time employment are women, and 54% of those on zero-hour contracts are women

Sources:

• https://pregnantthenscrewed.com/the-covid-crisis-effect-on-working-mums/
• The Women and Work APPG (All Party Parliamentary Group) 2020 report, ‘Women’s Wellbeing at Work’ - https://connectpa.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Women-and-work-Annual-report-2020i.pdf

Guest - Laura Farris MP
Host - Frankie Cotton
Sound Editor - Beth Davison

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