3 CASO SCOZIA INGLESE low - Rete Pari Opportunita

4.Scenarios and perspectives4.1 LegislationLooking at future scenarios on the implementationof equal opportunities in Scotlandand at the integration of women in localeconomic development processes implies consideringthe likely impact that the Gender Duty willdeliver. Overall, the views gathered on the GenderDuty were extremely positive, as it provides thenecessary degree of formality that is needed toensure that gender equality is a priority and thatthis filters into both public and private sectors.One of the interviewees went as far as stating thatthe Gender Duty is “the best thing that hasoccurred in this field since the 1970s”. This havingbeen said, there is some degree of realism on theexpectations of the Duty and on the fact that oneshould not overstate what it will achieve. The Dutyhas been defined as a “toothless tiger” in thatwhile the policy itself is adequate, the degree ofaccountability placed upon it is not necessarilysufficient. Amongst the limitations of the currentpolicies for gender equality that were quotedduring the interviews are the compartmentalisationof equality and the lack ofintegration across government policies anddepartments at both UK and Scottish level, andthe specialist skills involved in implementing theGender Duty at local levels. These two issues arebriefly discussed in the paragraphs to follow.Although the legislation is being put in place, theimplementation of the policy at the local level willvery likely become the responsibility of specialistunits, such as the Equal Opportunities sectionsof the local councils. This specialisation, whileunderstandable, might dilute the impact that theDuty will have on the day-to-day work ofinstitutions. This same compartmentalisation canbe seen within and across the Scottish Executive.The following example was cited in illustration ofthis: in 2004, the EOC carried out an analysis ofthe Modern Apprenticeships Scheme and of howit had impacted on gender equality 56 . The outcomeof this analysis was that girls were clustered instereotypical female jobs (care, nursing, hairdressing,beauty, etc.) and vice-versa. In synthesis,the study concluded that the scheme had operatedin a way that reinforced gender stereotypes ratherthan challenged them. More significantly, at theend and as a result of the apprenticeships, womenwould remain on the same wage, whereas menwould significantly increase their salaries. One of56 E. Thomson with A. McKay, J. Campbell and M. Gillespie (2004) Modern apprenticeships and gender equality: a local perspective. E. Thomson, A. McKay, J. Campbell andM. Gillespie (2005) Jobs for the boys and the girls: promoting a smart, successful and equal Scotland. The final report to the Scottish component of the EOC’s general formalinvestigation into occupational segregation, February 2005.37