Women’s equality in the UK – A health check

5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
Article 5 - Sex roles and stereotyping
Gender stereotypes abound in all areas of society in the UK. Rhetoric from the Government
often reinforces gender stereotypes, for example the expectation that women’s primary
responsibilities are in the home. The perpetuation of gender stereotypes creates a negative and
disempowering environment of conformity for women and openly encourages discrimination
against women. Among the material consequences of these stereotypes are, for example, the
continued low level of women in leadership positions (See Article 7) and the acceptability of
violence against women and girls. (See General Recommendation 19) We would like to know
what the Government’s plan of action is to end the perpetuation of gender stereotypes and to
create change around this?
Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) education and work
The number of unemployed men has begun to fall, but the number of women who are
unemployed is rising. 1 Investment in apprenticeships, technical training and science is welcome.
But it is disappointing that the Government is combining this investment with a withdrawal of
funding from initiatives to combat entrenched gender occupational segregation, which results
in a concentration of young women in training for jobs that pay far less than those in sectors
such as science and engineering. 2 For example the withdrawal of funding to the UK Resource
Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology 3 shows a lack of commitment to
supporting women to enter these professions and to end gender segregation in employment.
(See Articles 10 and 11 for further information)
Portrayal of women in the media
Women’s groups remain concerned that the UK Government has done little so far to address
the recommendations of the CEDAW Committee in 2008 regarding the stereotyping of women
in the media and lack of positive images of women, including ethnic and minority women, elderly
women and women with disabilities.
In particular positive representations of disabled women tend to be missing. 4 (See Appendix:
36) Disabled people in general are portrayed in the media as social burdens who are unable
to contribute to society in any meaningful way. 5 Incidents of negative language about disabled
people like ‘burden’, ‘scrounger’ and ‘cheat’ in print media has increased, whilst sympathetic
accounts of disability discrimination had almost disappeared in the tabloid press. 6 People living
in poverty also have to face stigma and prejudice, and a lack of recognition for the positive, nonfinancial
contributions they make to society. 7 (See Article 13)
1. Saner, E. (2012) ‘Female unemployment crisis’, The Guardian, 20th February 2012 http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/feb/20/femaleunemployment-crisis-women
2. WISE (2012) ‘Cuts to the UKRC questioned in UK parliament’, 11th January 2012 http://www.theukrc.org/news/2012/01/cuts-to-the-ukrcquestioned-in-uk-parliament
3. The UKRC http://www.theukrc.org/ Accessed: 21/03/13
4. Scarlet, M. (2012) ‘Shooting Beauty’ Disability Now, April 2012 http://archive.disabilitynow.org.uk/search/z12_04_Ap/style.shtml
5. Boffey, D. (2011) ‘Welfare to Work policy “casts the disabled as cheats”’ The Observer, 24th July 2011 http://www.guardian.co.uk/
society/2011/jul/24/welfare-policy-incites-hatred-disabled
6. Jolly, D. (2011) ‘Scapegoats, Sinners and Political Strategies: the media and disability cuts -Debbie Jolly’ Disabled People Against Cuts http://
www.dpac.uk.net/2011/12/scapegoats-sinners-and-political-strategies-the-media-and-disability-cuts-debbie-jolly/
7. Oxfam (2012) The Perfect Storm: Economic stagnation, the rising cost of living, public spending cuts, and the impact on UK poverty.
Oxfam: Oxford http://policy-practice.oxfam.org.uk/publications/the-perfect-storm-economic-stagnation-the-rising-cost-of-livingpublic-spending-228591
46 Women’s equality in the UK: CEDAW shadow report 2013