Rosa

By Baroness Margaret Prosser

After the 2nd World War a little film was made called Rosie the Riveter. It told the story of an American woman factory worker, helping the war effort in a decently paid job who as soon as the war was over and the men returned home was given her marching orders. Back to looking to whatever work she could find but aware that “men’s jobs” and “men’s pay” would no longer be available.

This little story reflects to a certain degree the pattern of many women’s working lives. Economy going well ? Come along. Jobs for the girls. Things going badly ? Sorry. No money. Have to cut back. Help with childcare costs? Not right now. Can’t afford it.

We know that for the last few years girls have been doing better than boys at A level studies and that more young women than young men are entering certain professions; medicine and the law for example.

We also know that for the first time ever women up to around 25 years of age are earning more than men of the same age. But after this period the pay gap widens again.

Why is this?

Firstly more boys than girls who do not enter university level education do go on to receive training of some sort.Vocational skills generally which enable them to command higher wages as they move into their 30’s and 40’s.

Secondly and most importantly women have the main responsibility for caring for children. The need for workplace flexibility and the very high cost of childcare often combine to force women out of full time and into part time jobs the majority of which are at the lower end of the pay scale. The paucity of decent quality part time work is an example of employer failure to invest in their women employees and a major reason for the continuing gender pay gap.

So where are we now?

Well I think that this continuing up the ladder and down again for women’s employment chances will,in the not too distant future,come to an end. I can’t see that girls who have worked hard at school and young women who have seen their efforts in the workplace begin to pay off are going to put up with being relegated to second class status. In particular the expectation that their careers or ambitions are disposable would not be greeted with any fervour.

So onwards and upwards. Let’s all do our bit to ensure that Rosie the Riveter did not record her experience in vain.

To read about the current state of women and the economy download the Women’s Budget Group’s analysis of the “Impact on Women of the Autumn Financial Statement” The Impact on Women of the AFS 2011