At a time when almost everyone is frustrated with the slow pace of gender equality progression in the United Kingdom, City University of London female students believe their generation will turn the tables. In a recent report from The Guardian the United Kingdom made zero progress in the field of gender equality in the field of gender in the past decade. Graphical representations from Statista shows that the employment gap by gender has only been reduced by 1.2 %.
Our reporter caught up with two students from City University who still believe the possibilities now are greater than ever before. Bilisha Begum (19) a student of International Politics and Sociology said despite the statistics, chances are higher as women incentives to go back to work keep increasing.
“Nowadays women can take shorter maternity leave days and go back to work early. More so, the salaries have improved as compared to earlier days hence there are more incentives for employment,” said Begum.
"Women account for only 7% of
board chairs
and 6% of chief executives in the largest companies in the EU."
Source: The Guardian
Begun also accepted that the gap in London is partly maintained by family roles in some situations, where the woman is still expected to do double roles, such as house chores. “In most cases it has been a case of family duties, but nowadays one can afford a nursery school. Another reason has been that men in powerful positions could not trust hiring women, as they thought they were not reliable upon to work longer hours,” she added.
However, she points out that this will soon be a "thing of the past" as more and more women rise into powerful positions even though at a slower pace.
Audrey Ash, a Masters Student in Investigative Journalism commented as well on the matter, adding that as society begins to realise that bringing about equality is for everyone, it would give hope that is still achievable.
“As long as we realise that its not about what women have to do, but everyone, gender equality in employment in the City of London can be achieved in our lifetime,” she enthused.
© photo by Alvaro Millán