It is our contention that the government is overlooking the long-term impact on women in its response to the coronavirus crisis.
We acknowledge that men have been disproportionately affected by the virus itself, but research suggests that women in Britain may suffer lasting damage from the pandemic, setting them back by decades.
A recent study by the Fawcett Society and the Women’s Budget Group has already shown that the pandemic response has had a disproportionately negative effect on women of all ages and in all sectors.
According to the Resolution Foundation, women are more likely than men to be employed in sectors that have been shut down during the pandemic. Research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies reveals that mothers are almost 50% more likely than fathers to have either lost their jobs or resigned.
During the pandemic, one in four pregnant women or women on maternity leave have experienced unfair treatment at work, such as being singled out for redundancy or furlough. Additionally, Carers UK reports that women are more likely to be taking care of elderly relatives, and many working mothers have had to take unpaid leave or voluntary furlough to provide care during the lockdown.
The death rate from Covid-19 in black, Asian, and minority ethnic women is up to twice as high as in white men.
The lockdown is also exacerbating the gender pay gap, as women are losing income and pension contributions. Moreover, the demand for domestic abuse helplines, such as Refuge’s national helpline, has increased by 66% during lockdown.
Furthermore, female sportswomen face an uncertain future, with the last women’s team sport fixture in the country taking place on March 14. Unfortunately, the focus has largely been on male-dominated sports.
Lockdown measures are rolling back the progress made in women’s lives in Britain. We urge the government to take action to prevent this regression.
Our request to the government is to promise that when making decisions regarding lockdown policies, there will be meaningful representation of women, and that the impact of these policies on women’s lives will always be fully assessed.
Dame Helena Morrissey
Baroness Bakewell (Lab)
Jane Shepherdson
Chair, My Wardrobe HQ
Mary Portas
Sonia Friedman OBE
Jude Kelly
Founder, The WOW Foundation
Baroness Altmann (Con)
Caroline Nokes MP (Con)
Chair, The Women and Equalities Select Committee
Nicola Mendelsohn
Vice-president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Facebook
Baroness Morgan of Cotes (Con)
Brenda Trenowden
Global co-chairman, 30% Club
Ann Francke
CEO, The Chartered Management Institute (CMI)
Justine Roberts
Founder, Mumsnet
Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill
Ama Agbeze
Denise Lewis
Gabby Logan
Nimco Ali
Co-founder and CEO, The Five Foundation
Amber Rudd
Catherine McKinnell MP (Lab)
Chair of the Petitions Committee
Sam Smethers
Chief Executive, Fawcett Society
Mary-Ann Stephenson
Director, Women’s Budget Group
Dame Heather Rabbatts
Emma Hayes
Manager, Chelsea Women’s Football Club
Judy Murray
Tracey Neville
Helen Pankhurst
Harriett Baldwin MP (Con)
Clive Betts MP (Lab)
Chair, Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Ben Beadle
Chief Executive, The National Residential Landlords Association
Tamara Gillan
Founder, WealthiHer
Barry O’Dwyer
Chief Executive, Royal London
Sian Fisher
Chief Executive, Chartered Insurance Institute
Caroline Abrahams
Charity Director, Age UK
Christine Armstrong
Laura Bates
Founder, EveryDay Sexism
Rosalind Bragg
Director, Maternity Action
Joeli Brearley
Founder and CEO, Pregnant then Screwed
Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu
Cherie Blair QC
Pinky Lilani
Founder, Women of the Future
Jo Fairley
Co-founder, Green & Black’s
Bianca Miller-Cole
Jessica Fellowes
Serena Guthrie
Alice Liveing
Author, The Body Bible and Everyday Fitness
Jacqui Oatley
Frances O’Grady
General Secretary, The Trades Union Congress
Siobhain McDonagh MP (Lab)
Barbara Keeley MP (Lab)
Nicola Sharp-Jeffs
Chief Executive, Surviving Economic Abuse
Polly Neate
Chief Executive, Shelter
Helen Walker
Chief Executive, Carers UK
Jane Keeper
Director of Operations, Refuge
Nicki Norman
Acting CEO, Women’s Aid
Jane van Zyl
Chief Executive, Working Families
Andrew Formica
CEO, Jupiter Asset Management
Peter Harrison
CEO, Schroders
Moira O’Neill
Head of Personal Finance, Interactive Investor
Lisa Wainwright
Chief Executive, Sport and Recreation Alliance
Nathan Bostock
CEO, Santander UK
Carol Knight
Chief Operations Officer, The Investing and Savings Alliance
Colour-blind Rhodes Scholarships
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