Gendered impact of the UK’s Government’s lifting of lockdown

Women and girls are being left behind by the UK Government’s approach to lifting lockdown. The UK Government is prioritising reopening shops, pubs, hairdressers and cinemas – while childcare and care infrastructure receives little attention. For many parents, a lack of childcare means they cannot return to work. Plans to open primary schools in England before the summer holiday were dropped, and nurseries and care homes are struggling financially and in need of a bailout. Women still do the majority of unpaid care, and early data shows that mothers in opposite-sex couples were 50% more likely to have been fired, quit or furloughed than fathers during lockdown. This situation is likely to be even worse for single parents, 90% of whom are women.

Women’s Budget Group along with other organisations working in the women’s sector are calling for the Government to #MakeWomenVisible though working to create strong structures to engage with the women’s and wider equalities sector.

Read the full statement here