What women living in poverty think policy makers could do to help them – and policy makers responses

Posted on February 27, 2009
Filed Under Children Parenting, Consultation, Employment Work, England, Government, Women's Group | Comments Off

The women’s first proposal to policy-makers: increase benefits, including Income Support, pensions and Child Benefit

Women’s proposal

The women described the inadequacy of the benefits system. It does not allow recipients to afford the basics, let alone any luxuries. This means that children can suffer as their basic needs are not being met. The women suggested that the Government could increase benefits to help women living in poverty meet these basic needs. They recommended that a broad range of benefits be increased, including Income Support, pensions and Child Benefit. They highlighted the discrepancy between Child Benefit rates that are higher for the first child and lower for subsequent children. They also expressed the fact that carers often go unrecognised and are underfunded, especially if they are unregistered because they are family members.

In the presentations and subsequent discussion, they argued that if Government were to increase benefits, then the basic needs of women and children could be met. Moreover, other government objectives, such as increasing the number of women in work, would be advanced. They put forward the compelling argument that a key factor in a woman joining the workforce is having a sense of dignity – while living in poverty, and not being able to support oneself or their family, that dignity is lost.

Policy-makers’ response

Policy-makers responded openly and honestly about the difficulties they face in increasing adult benefits, explaining the complicated decisions that they have to take in allocating limited resources. Areas where the Government is either currently reviewing policy or carries on regular reviews of policy were highlighted, including the debate over levels of Child Benefit. There was also a more wide-ranging discussion in response to questions and answers at the individual level, for example on financial support for education for young people.

There was, therefore, a variation in the receptiveness of policy-makers to the proposals that the women put forward. Policy-makers’ honest approach to discussing the pros and cons of different proposals, and highlighting where change may be possible, contributed to an ambiance of dialogue and respect.

The women’s second proposal to policy-makers: create a Women’s Act to ensure that women’s rights are achieved

Women’s proposal

The women identified the pervasive disrespect that they experience as a result of their poverty, being stereotyped as lazy and stupid. Moreover, they highlighted the limited access to basic necessities, decent education and employment as a result of living in poverty. They noted that despite various legal and policy instruments to promote gender equality, such as the Equal Pay Act created 30 years ago, there continue to be significant instances of discrimination and inequality experienced by women, and women living in poverty in particular. In order to redress this situation, they suggested creating a Women’s Act that would enshrine women’s rights on a range of issues, and have more power to make change happen both within Government and outside, for example by regulating negative media messages about women. One of the key elements of this proposal was the idea that consultation with women living in poverty be a central tenet of such an Act to ensure that policies and programmes are respectful to and reflective of their needs. The presenters argued that if women were more confident and motivated, and had a better quality of life, they would be more active in society, leading to more women in employment, more women voting and more women paying taxes.

Policy-makers’ response

Policy-makers responded positively to the proposal of a Women’s Act, expressing a considerable interest in it, but also discussed the difficulty of creating such legislation.

They also went on to describe certain policy innovations taking place currently, with particular reference to the Discrimination Law Review and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). While they sympathised with the continued prevalence of gender inequality, they suggested that there needs first to be a change in social perceptions, values and beliefs, before equality can be promoted, endorsed by the Government and then embedded in laws. (Such a shift in social perceptions, however, would likely pre-empt the need for equality legislation.)

The response to this proposal was encouraging and well-balanced by providing further information about the current policy landscape. It appears as well that to a greater extent than increasing benefits, both the women participants and policymakers concerned with gender equality had a shared sense of purpose in promoting women’s rights. Moreover, there was a shared understanding that achieving equality is a significant struggle, but that the Government has a role to play in influencing our culture and society towards it.

The baroness played a critical role in encouraging women to take their ideas further and described her excitement at the idea of a Women’s Act. She expressed her particular concern, one which is echoed by the gender-equality lobby more widely, that the EHRC could eclipse gender concerns. This provided women with greater confidence about their proposals, and a more in-depth understanding of current debates on how to promote gender equality.

The women’s third proposal to policy-makers: provide free quality childcare

Women’s proposal

Women proposed that childcare should be free. They challenged government rhetoric about the ‘choices’ available to women and parents with respect to childcare provision. They argued that women living in poverty often cannot access childcare because it is prohibitively expensive. They also cited other problems with childcare of particular concern to them, including extremely high nursery penalties for late pick-ups, and the lack of financial support available to family members who care for children, such as grandmothers.

Policy-makers’ response

Policy-makers highlighted the ongoing review of the childcare system within the framework of the ten-year childcare strategy, and said that input from women is therefore useful. A more in-depth discussion over the possibilities of providing payment to family members for childcare was held, enabling a thoughtful engagement on the subject. They also explained that there is currently a review of different types of carers in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

The baroness rallied behind the proposals made by women, particularly providing support to family members for the childcare they provide, citing the fact that there are other adult carers’ allowances which are a precedent for paying family members for childcare. Civil servants had argued that the Government does not want to commercialise this relationship. By providing this enthusiastic and knowledgeable support to participants, the baroness gave more confidence to women in pursuing this proposal.

Overall, the direct engagement event provided the women with an opportunity to present their ideas for change with policy-makers, contributing to one of the aims of the project to ‘understand policy debates, explore policy solutions, and engage with policy-makers directly’. By presenting proposals to policy-makers that had not been given the ‘green light’ in the capacity-building phase of the project, the women also made clear that they wanted to pursue their own priorities for change, and influence policy-makers to take these on board, rather than be limited by what proposals they thought policy-makers wanted to hear. They balanced this with persuasive arguments grounded in individual experience, and benefits for themselves and government, to make changes that reflect and respect their particular needs.

Extracts from full report Engaging and empowering women in poverty – see previous posting for download links and comment options at http://womensgrid.freecharity.org.uk/?p=323

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Related stories:
* Government obsession with full-time work will backfire http://womensgrid.freecharity.org.uk/?p=297
* Minister unveils plans to push lone parents back into work http://womensgrid.freecharity.org.uk/?p=296

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