1. Capitalism and inequality - a gendered perspective
Polly Trenow

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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%

8. Austerity

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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