Poverty

Our Poverty sub-group is convened by Board member, Joan Bree and meets to discuss, debate and analyse the issues surrounding womens poverty and informs Engenders response and campaigning work. Please contact the office if you would like to be part of this group.

 Engender’s women and poverty sub group will examine the social, economic and political affects of poverty on women in Scotland and make the links between women’s experience of poverty and child poverty.

Women are more vulnerable and more likely to experience poverty at some time in their lives than men.

As the main carers women are the managers of poverty in their family. The stress and anxiety associated with managing poverty has a damaging effect on women’s health and self esteem. In an ever increasing consumerist society women feel guilty and stigmatised at not being able to provide for their family.

Women fleeing domestic violence find themselves homeless and isolated with no social and economic support.

Women in rural areas experience isolation where services are inaccessible, public transport is infrequent and expensive and there is a lack of community amenities and involvement.

Women are paid less than men. There are more women working in low paid and part time work than men. A lack of adequate, affordable childcare provision means women are more likely to take career breaks to care for children or elderly relatives. These are all contributing factors in women earning less than men and results in women receiving lower pensions in retirement.

Engender works to make women’s poverty and it’s impact on society visible:

• We will carry out an in-depth gender analysis of women’s poverty and the issues that will affect her over her lifetime from childhood to old age.
• We will act as a think tank on gendered poverty issues and respond to consultations and policy statements.
• We will build partnerships and alliances with other poverty and equality groups campaigning to eradicate economic and social poverty for women and their families living in Scotland.
  

……………There is more to life than the bottom line

• The average woman working full-time is paid 14% less than a man. The pay gap is 35% less per hour for part-time workers
• Less than 12% of women receive the full basic state pension based on their own contributions; A woman’s average retirement income is 53% of men’s
• 66% of Scotland’s estimated 650,000 unpaid carers are women
  

Women and men are so much more than workers, they make up Scottish society. As careers, providers and participants in the community they are responsible for Scotland’s health, wealth and wellbeing. Unless women and men are supported to combine work and caring roles women will pay the price.

Related Information

Read GeNet's Latest Newsletter here http://www.genet.ac.uk/newsletter/GENET_newsletter_3_lowres.pdf