Report Addresses Gender Gap in London

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A few years ago, GAB covered the growing gender wage gap in the UK. Though that gap has since decreased, equal pay is still a significant issue in the UK. But the wage gap isn’t the only significant gender equality disparity plaguing the UK right now. In fact, a recent report by The Fawcett Society has found that London, more than anywhere else in the UK, is greatly behind in the campaign for gender equality.

Among the findings in the report:

• The gender wage gap is 50% higher in London than it is in the rest of the country (23% compared to 15%);
• London has the highest amount of sexual violence per capita of anywhere in the UK;
• Childcare is 1/3 more expensive in London than it is in the rest of the country;
• Only 1/2 of mothers in London work, compared to 2/3 throughout the rest of the UK;
• There are more single parents in London than elsewhere in the country.

Despite these significant inequalities, activists have found that politicians are less than prepared to listen and work toward making a difference. The Guardian reports:

Despite warnings from rights campaigners that the situation in the capital is set to get worse over the coming years, Boris Johnson, the conservative candidate and favourite to win the mayoral elections on 3 May, has snubbed an opportunity to attend pre-election hustings on Monday called What About Women? Although it is a non-political society, Goddard said she was “extremely disappointed” in the incumbent mayor’s decision to send a representative when other candidates had pledged to come and discuss the issue publicly. “I sincerely hope this is not an indication of how seriously he [Johnson] treats women’s inequality,” she said. “We’ve had enough platitudes. All the candidates need to be much more explicit about what their policies are doing for women.”

The Fawcett Society has created a petition asking Mayoral candidates to take a stand and speak out against gender inequality in London. Check out the petition to see how you can take action.

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