Course : POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS OF THE UK I Lecturer : R.SPENCE

1. Course: POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS OF THE UK I Lecturer: R.SPENCE Speaker: ARTEMISIA STAVGIANNOUDAKI Date: 30.01.2007 / WINTER SEMESTER Topic: THE ROLE & STATUS OF WOMEN IN BRITAIN

2. Women in Britain: The role & status of women in Britain have changed substantially in recent decades, thus leading to them actively participating in all aspects of everyday life. There are many areas in which women's presence has become predominant. These are the following ones: Public/Social Life: They serve on public, administrative bodies & make their views on public issues. They are included in the membership of the Royal Commissions &other national & regional advisorycommittees, which they sometimes chair. The Government regards the appointment of more women as beneficial to decision-making. Concerning politics, women are also members of the House of Lords, the House of Commons. Back in 1979 the then Prime Minister Mrs Margaret Thatcher, became the 1st woman in either Western Europe or North America to rise to the highest national political office. Women Ministers serve also in the Government *Some key facts which prove women’s representation in politics (according to figures recently released): In the 2005 election,6 out of the 23 members of the Cabinetwere women-that is 26.1% of the total. In 2006,126 of the MPs were women-19.5% of the total, namely a significant increase comparing to the 2001 election, when 17.9% of MPs were women. In 2003, elections for the Scottish Parliament resulted in an increase in women members to 40%. Elections to the National Assembly for Wales increased the representation of women to a record 50%. This is a higher proportion than any of the national parliaments who report their data to the Inter-Parliamentary Union. 2006 figures show that women make up 18.4% of the House of Lords. Women represent 24% of the UK members of the European Parliament (MEPs). In England just over a quarter of local councillors are women (29%), 3.5% of councillors were of minority ethnic origin and 12.4% were disabled councillors.

3. Women play an important role in the administration of justice at the lower levels, comprising some 12,600 out of a total of about 28,700 magistrates in England and Wales. However, they remain poorly represented in the ranks of the judiciary. • Industry and commerce have traditionally been male-dominated areas but greater number of women are beginning to rise to the most senior positions. Large corporations (eg. Brirtish Petroleum) have appointed women to their boards of directors or to take care of subsidiary firms. • Women are active in the trade union movement , making up a third of the total membership. They predominate in certain trade unions (eg. the Union of Shop). Nevertheless, they are not to be found among executive council members. • Culture: The contribution of women to British cultural life has broadened in recent years as they entered areas of artistic activity, such as theatre direction and orchestra conducting, previously occupied mainly by men. They are among the leading authors and actresses, comedians, performers in rock and pop music, sculptors in the visual arts. • Media: Women play an increasingly significant role in the mass media. They become directors of programmes, editors of news, presenters and newsreaders on both television and radio, columnists, departmental heads, newspaper journalists…

4. Sport: • Women engage in most sports and games played in Britain and the number participating have risen considerably in recent years as part of the general growth in active recreation. A more positive attitude towards physical fitness has led to growing participation by women in athletic events like the triple jump and marathon. • Governmental Responsibilities: • Overall responsibility for policy on sex equality in Britain is exercised by the Home Office. Individual governmental departments formulate policies in their specific areas. • TheMinisterial Group on Women’s Issuesis the main forum under the chairmanship of the Home Office Minister for co-ordinating the work of government Departments & for developing inter-departmental initiatives in priority areas like childcare, public appointments, domestic violence & the special needs of women from ethnic minorities. • The Equal Opportunities Commission has powers to enforce the Sex Discrimination Acts and the Equal Pay Act in Great Britain, as well as to promote equality of opportunity. Northern Ireland has its own sex discrimination laws & a separate commission with similar powers & duties. • The Women’s National Commission represents some 50 of the main national women’s organisations 7 is an official advisory committee with a government co-chairman appointed by the Prime Minister. Its purpose is to ensure that the informed opinions of women are given due weight in the deliberations of government. • The Legal Framework: • In most respects women havethe samelegal rights as men. They may acquire, own, use & • dispose of property, enter into contracts, sued & be sued. Women are called to give evidence in • legal proceedings, serve on juries under the same conditions as men & subject to the same • qualifications & they are employed as magistrates & judges. The following legislation is part of this • framework: • The Equal Pay Act 1970- Its purpose is to eliminate discrimination with regard to pay & other terms of employment (eg. overtime, bonuses, output, holiday, sick-leave entitlement etc) • The Sex Discrimination Act 1975/1986- This refers to discrimination existing in areas such as employment & training, education, housing-goods-facilities-services & advertising.

5. The Rights of Expectant Mothers - Working women expecting a baby have been given important rights. Women with 2 years’ service working for more than 16 hours a week & women with 5 years’ service employed for between 8 & 16 hours a week have the right not to be unfairly dismissed because of pregnancy. They are also entitled to return to work not later than 29 weeks after the birth of the baby. If pregnant, they cannot be unreasonably refused time-off for ante-natal care & must be paid for the time-off. • Social Security -The Social Security Pensions Act 195 introduced the State Earnings Related Pension Scheme under which women earners receive the same benefits as men. It is also laid down that women should have equal access to occupational pension schemes. • Immigration & Nationality -The rights of women under immigration & nationality laws were extended by the British Nationality Act 1981& are now substantially the same as those enjoyed by men. • Matrimonial & Family Law – In England & Wales the Matrimonial & Family Proceedings Act 1984 relaxed the time restrictions on the presentation of divorce petitions & reformed the legal framework for making financial settlements on divorce. These changes were designed to give the courts further scope to deal with the problems which arise on marital breakdown. • Personal Taxation – A new system of independent taxation for husband and wife was introduced in April 1990 under the Finance Act 1988. Before that date the income of a married woman was as if it belonged to her husband. This new system gives married women greatly increased privacy & independence in tax affairs & ends certain tax penalties on marriage. • Other Employment Measures - The Employment Act 1989 replaced or amended most legislation that discriminated between men & women in employment & training and in so doing meets European Community obligations. The on women workin underground in mines & quarries was removed, as were some restrictions on their working with machinery in factories. In Northern Ireland, sex discrimination legislation parallels that in the rest of Britain.

6. Education: The development of equal opportunities has a special importance in education for widening women’s career prospects & influencing attitudes towards women’s place in society. The Government is committed to promoting equal opportunities in schools, colleges & universities& to encouraging girls & young women to study traditionally male-dominated disciplines such as science & engineering. • Schools:Full-time attendance at school is obligatory for both girls & boys between the ages of 5 & 16.The Government does not want girls to limit their career prospects by dropping the study of science, technology and certain other objects too early in their school education. With the introduction in 1989 of the National Curriculum, girls in England & Wales follow the same broad & balanced curriculum as boys up to the age of 16, thereby removing any discrimination & stereotyping in subject choice. • Further & Higher Education: One of the Government's priorities for students recruitment in further and higher education is to provide equal opportunities for women. Measures designed to encourage female recruitment include improving guidance & information about opportunities and promoting more flexible forms of provision such as open learning schemes. • The Open University:A development which brought higher education within the range of large numbers of women was the establishment in 1969 of the Open University. Just under half of students on undergraduate and other courses in 1990 were women.The University is particularly suited to women's needs with its flexible study hours & course arrangements, enabling students to organise study around their normal working & domestic circumstances.

7. Emloyment: More women are employed or seeking employment in Britain today than ever berfore. Reasons for the growth of the female workforce are: The higher divorce rate & the rise in births outside Marriage, leading to larger numbers of lone-parents families, more than nine tenths of which are headed by women; the need to supplement the husband´s income; and the desire of many women to fulfil themselves through work. • Developments: The Government has sought to create economic climate in which business can flourish and hence provide more jobs for men and women. Women are gaining more educational and vocational qualifications and entering areas of employment traditionally dominated by men. An indicator of women´s progress in breaking down traditional barriers has been the achievements of women in the armed forces. The only vocations to which women are not admitted are the ministries of the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches. In october 1990 local authorities launched a campaign to improve the working environment for women employees in order to ease recruitment and retention problems. • Criminal Justice: • Police recruitment and Training: Women have equal opportunities for appointment to the police service. • Custodial establishments: Male & female custodial establishments in ERngland & Wales operate in general under the same policies & statuary rules. • Violence against women: There is a comprehensive body of law on sexual offences. Maximum penalties for attempted rape and indecent assault against women have recently been substantially increased in England and Wales.

8. TOWARDS GENDER EQUALITY However, in some cases, inequalities of opportunity and under - achievement remain in important areas : • A disproportionately large number of women workers are in lower paid, lower status jobs • Women are actually under – represented in Parliament • They are also under - represented in other positions in public and professional life. This is seen by the Government as a significant waste of the talent of one - half of the population, which is Damaging to Britain´s economic prospects. For this reason, there are hundreds of women´s organisations in Britain aiming to improve the quality of women´s life by offering opportunities for social and cultural activities or even to end domestic violence against women and children (Women´s Aid Federation of England). Several organisations have many affiliates and act as umbrella groups for women´s orgfanisations. The largest are the National Council of Women and the newly formed National Alliance of Women´s Organisations with 176 affiliates. Some organisations represent the interests of specific groups : eg The National Association of Widows, the Carer´s National Association, the Gingerbread.

9. THAT´S THE END THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!