An article set out a framework that reconciled the central importance of the level of labour demand in explaining worklessness with the paradoxical simultaneous rise of women's employment and receipt of disability benefits. Women claiming disability benefits were overwhelmingly located alongside male claimants in areas where heavy industry had declined, pointing towards linkages between the 'male' and 'female' sides of the labour market. Additionally, there might be raised knowledge and local acceptance of disability benefits in these locations.
Source: Christina Beatty, Steve Fothergill, Donald Houston, Ryan Powell and Paul Sissons, 'A gendered theory of employment, unemployment, and sickness', Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, Volume 27 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2009-Nov
An article examined the situation of men and women aged under 60 claiming incapacity benefits (IB). There were significant differences in their characteristics and circumstances and in their routes on to IB. Academic debates needed to take into account the differences between women and men in order to reach a more complete understanding of the role of IB in the post-industrial economy.
Source: Peter Kemp and Jacqueline Davidson, 'Gender differences among new claimants of incapacity benefit', Journal of Social Policy, Volume 38 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2009-Oct
A mental health watchdog regulator said that women detained in hospital under mental health legislation were having their privacy, dignity, and safety compromised in some services.
Source: Women Detained in Hospital, Mental Health Act Commission (0115 943 7100)
Links: Community Care report
Date: 2009-Mar
A paper examined the relationship between the family and work histories of older women and their individual incomes in later life, using retrospective data from the British Household Panel Survey. The associations between women's family histories and their incomes later in life were relatively weak, and in many cases insignificant.
Source: Tom Sefton, Maria Evandrou and Jane Falkingham, Family Ties: Women's work and family histories and their association with incomes in later life in the UK, CASEpaper 135, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion/London School of Economics (020 7955 6679)
Links: Paper
Date: 2009-Jan