News / Bristol Women's Commission
The fight for gender equality continues
There is still a long way to go to reach a place where women are treated equally and have the same opportunities to thrive as men.
This is the stark reality highlighted in a report from Bristol Women’s Commission, which outlined notable achievements against a backdrop of ingrained gender disparities and “scary statistics” on health, particularly amongst deprived communities.
In a city where the employment rate for women is 70 per cent, compared to 80 per cent for men, female life expectancy has dropped to lower than the national average, childcare is arguably the most expensive in the world and gender-based violence is prevalent, the fight for equality continues.
is needed now More than ever
Presenting the report to Bristol City Council last week, Penny Gane, chair of Bristol Women’s Commission, outlined work being done, including a successful campaign to increase the number of women councillors – which has risen to more than 40 per cent –with ambitions to reach 50-50 by 2020.
But inequality is rife, with 43 per cent of women employed in the city working part time for much lower hourly pay than full time workers.
Gane said: “The lack of affordable, high quality child care is a major contributing factor to women’s under employment in quality jobs and Bristol has the highest cost of child care in the country, if not the world.”
The report states that more than 15,000 women in Bristol were victims of gender based violence in 2016.
It also highlights stark statistics on health, with Bristol falling to 23rd worst out of 149 local authority areas in terms of women’s health and seeing more women dying of cancer, particularly in poorer areas.
Helen Godwin says Bristol needs the women’s commission now more than ever
Responding to the report, Helen Godwin, Labour cabinet member for women, said: “We cannot ignore the prevalence of violence towards women in Bristol and only in partnership can we end this pattern.
“Bristol needs the women’s commission more than ever: women in Bristol are paid less than men, childcare is arguably the most expensive in the world, our health is poorer than it should be, the prevalence of gender-based violence is high and, whilst I stand here proud to be part of a majority women cabinet, in front of a woman lord mayor, wider representation is lower than it should be.
“The #MeToo and Everyday Sexism campaigns have shown that we have a long way to go before we get to a place where our daughters are treated equally to our sons and have the same chances to thrive.”
Work being done to address inequality in the city includes targeting women in Lawrence Hill and Easton to help overcome barriers to employment and make sure their voices are heard and linking up schoolgirls with inspirational role models and involving them in discussions about changes that can be made.
The Bristol Zero Tolerance Campaign led to gender based discrimination being classified as a hate crime
The Bristol Zero Tolerance campaign has led to gender-based violence being officially classified as a hate crime by Avon and Somerset Police.
Bristol is unique in having both a dedicated commission and women’s voice network, and remains the only UK city to have signed the European Charter of Equality of Women and Men in Local Life.
As Liz Radford, Conservative councillor for Henleaze and Westbury-on-Trym, commented: “Times have changed but there’s still so much more to do.”
Women from across the city gathered for the lantern parade in February to celebrate 100 years of some women getting the vote. Photo by Evoke Pictures
Read more: Report paints a stark picture of women’s health in Bristol’s most deprived areas
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