Capitalism and inequality - a gendered perspective Polly Trenow

Care work Classical economic theory Male breadwinner model Woman does care work Male wages enough to support family Economic modelling based on male head of household

Women and work Wages stagnated - one wage was not enough Women entered workforce Other women employed to care Need part-time jobs to fit around care

Gender pay gap 4 causes Occupational seggregation - women work in ‘4 c’s’ - cleaning, caring, clerical and catering 74% of part time workers are women Part time work paid at 63% of full time work Demotion - women often return to more junior roles after childbirth Direct discrimination - in bonuses or like-for-like wages

Pregnancy discrimination 60,000 a year lose their jobs when they become pregnant Women return to wages 5% lower after taking maternity leave 45% of women report discriminatory treatment when pregnant at work Only 3% of women go to an employment tribunal

Women in the labour market More women working than ever before Women congregate in low paid jobs - 2/3rds of those paid at NMW or below are women Under utilisation of women’s skills costs the UK £15-20bn a year in lost revenue Women make up only 20% of FSTE 100 board members

Public vs private Women make up 80% of local authority and school staff Pay gap in public sector 17% Pay gap in private sector 24%

Austerity

Austerity - jobs Public sector job cuts - down by 13% since 2010 (75% of cuts still to come) Women’s employment rate returned to pre-crisis level but remains 10% below men Unemployment falling for both men and women but slower for women (-9% for women -14% for men) Long term unemployment is growing faster for women - especially in women over 50 Shift from public to private sector employment (x3 private sector jobs created) but low paid and insecure

Austerity - services Local authorities 30% real terms cut in budget Further 10% planned Resulted in closure of care services e.g. Sure Start Centres, care respite, after school clubs

Austerity - tax credits and benefits 80% of cuts to welfare spending has come from women’s income Women more likely to receive benefits and use public services - carers Welfare spending cut, tax-free earnings allowance increased 57% of the beneficiaries for tax allowance are men Increase in personal tax allowance costs £12bn p/a Cuts to social security will save £12bn in 2014

Economic alternative Tax increase and spending cuts are a gendered choice Spending on physical vs social infrastructure Enable unpaid care workers to take paid employment Equal division of care work Subsidise supply of care work - not just demand Collective bargaining - democratise workplaces Minimum wage to a living wage