North East Women's Network
North East Women's Network (www.newwomens.net) has now been established and its website contains lots of useful information about issues facing women in the north east as well as events and activities.
Visit the website
Fourth Action is the lead for Northumberland and sits on the network steering group. For more information about activities and events visit the website.
The Network has agreed a statement about why working with women is a priority for gender equality in the region. View the statement
Gender Equality and NNWN
NNWN sets out to promote equality between women and men. That doesn't mean that women need to be like men, but that both genders can get their voices heard on an equal basis.
For more information about women and equality visit the Fawcett Society website here.
Some facts about gender in Northumberland:
Workplace / employment issues
In the North East as a whole,
•Twice as many men as women in full-time employment
•Five times as many women as men in part-time employment
•More women are entering the labour market but in low paid part time work
•Pay gap – women paid 77% of male average (in full-time work)
Average gross weekly earnings Northumberland April 2000
Average male earnings £376.1 per week
Average female earnings £294.6 per week
•Low numbers of women in senior jobs
•Gender stereotyping in career choices leading to lower status, and very low numbers of women in construction, engineering, sport and ICT
(TUC North – ‘Gender Inequality in the Workplace’)
Women in Enterprise
In the report ‘Rural Micro businesses in the NE of England: Survey results’ Centre for Rural Economy, July 2000, ’ rural micro - enterprise was described as mostly made up of Hospitality, Land-based activities and Recreation / Culture. These firms are notable for:
• 56% of female ownership (68% in hospitality)
• High levels of family involvement
• Most commonly sought source of support is from the private sector
• Substantial journeys are needed to access services
• Only half have access to the Internet.
Those businesses generating less than £20,000 are 87% female-owned, mainly B&B and self-catering, with 74% sourcing their inputs locally within 30 miles.
•4.7% women are self-employed in the North East. Characteristics include:
•More likely to use informal sources of capital and to be under-capitalised
•Women-owned businesses are smaller and less growth orientated
•Orientation towards local / regional markets
•Chosen as a route to independence and flexibility in lifestyle
Women’s role in North Northumberland’s rural economy is not yet fully mapped or understood, but there is evidence that:
• women are playing a crucial role in farming diversification (e.g. of the 13 members of the ‘Stay on a Farm’ network, 12 are women) (‘Sustaining Living Uplands’ CRE 2000)
• Women’s role is culturally limited to land-based activity in the areas of the declining fishing industry where diversification opportunities are less obvious.
• Women predominate in crafts enterprises where cluster support has been developed (e.g. through the Aurora project). This approach could be developed further.
• Women frequently develop ‘portfolio’ careers, supplementing low paid work with small-scale self-employment.
Social factors
• Changes in household structures are resulting in more lone parents 95% of whom (in the Berwick Sure Start area) are women.
• Women’s pension record is often inadequate, yet there are nearly twice as many women as men in the over 80 age group.
• Most carers of older people are women
• Women live longer but in older age are frailer
• Less access to own transport in rural areas
• Mixed Messages, with policy initiatives encouraging women into work while cultural attitudes and pressures are continuing to result in women leaving training courses (Glendale Community Appraisal, 2001)
What is your wish for equality?
Our wish is that all women live free of violence, able to make their own choices, develop their talents and take the decisions that affect their lives. For more information about the campaign and about the Fawcett Society, follow the link When you wish upon a star...
Support our Wish Appeal: email us your wishes for equality, and become an Equality Star.
Women at Work - Did you know that.......
Women working full-time earn on average 17% less an hour than men working full time. On the average salary of £23,600, that means around £4,000 less a year.
Women working part-time earn on average 36% less an hour than men working full-time.
At the current rate of change it will be at least 80 years before the full-time pay gap close and 140 years for the part-time gap.
Out of the 27 European Union countries, the UK has the biggest pay gap. We’re losing the race to close it.
If you'd like to do more than just sign a petition have a look at http://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/ for ideas.
Fawcett Society Wish for Equality Appeal
