A report by the women's equality watchdog analyzed the ways in which life had changed for women and men since the Sex Discrimination Act 1975. It said that women had made "great strides" in education and the workplace: but also that they continued to suffer from "scandalous inequalities".
Source: Then and Now: 30 Years of the Sex Discrimination Act, Equal Opportunities Commission (0161 833 9244)
Links: Report | EOC press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Dec
A report examined the social and demographic characteristics of men and women in Northern Ireland, and their living standards. Women were at a slightly greater risk of poverty than men on all poverty measures.
Source: Fiona Scullion and Paddy Hillyard, Gender and Poverty in Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (028 9034 8160)
Links: Report
Date: 2005-Dec
A report examined the effects of the Sex Discrimination Act since 1975, and how life in general had changed for women in that period.
Source: Are We There Yet?: 30 years of closing the gap between women and men, Fawcett Society (020 7253 2598)
Links: Report | Fawcett Society press release
Date: 2005-Nov
A report called on all political parties to use equality guarantees to ensure parity of representation for women in Parliament.
Source: Sarah Childs, Joni Lovenduski and Rosie Campbell, Women at the Top 2005: Changing numbers, changing politics?, Hansard Society (020 7955 7459)
Links: Report | Hansard Society press release
Date: 2005-Nov
The government began consultation on proposals to introduce a public sector duty to promote gender equality.
Source: Advancing Equality for Men and Women: Government proposals to introduce a public sector duty to promote gender equality, Women and Equality Unit/Department of Trade and Industry (0845 001 0029)
Links: Consultation document (pdf) | WEU press release | EOC press release
Date: 2005-Oct
A report examined women s representation in senior positions across the spheres of politics, public life, and business. In 2004 women made up just 8.3 per cent of the senior judiciary, 8.3 per cent of senior police officers, 9.7 per cent of top business leaders, and 9.1 per cent of national newspaper editors. In some areas, the number of women in top jobs had fallen since the previous year.
Source: Sex and Power: Who runs Britain? 2005, Equal Opportunities Commission (0161 833 9244)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Aug
A report charted progress on the cross-government gender equality public service agreement (for 2003-2006), by reporting on progress against individual departmental targets throughout 2004.
Source: Delivering on Gender Equality: A progress report on the gender equality public service agreement 2003-2006 - Supporting gender equality across government, Women and Equality Unit/Department of Trade and Industry (0845 001 0029)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jul
The Equal Opportunities Commission called for radical action to close the gender pay gap, release Britain's full economic potential, and make important space and time for caring for children and older relatives.
Source: Women: Unlocking the Potential - The EOC's action plan for government, Equal Opportunities Commission (0161 833 9244)
Links: Action plan (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | EOC press release
Date: 2005-Jul
It was reported that the Minister for Women in the new Labour government (Meg Munn MP) would carry out her responsibilities without receiving any additional ministerial salary.
Source: The Guardian, 16 May 2005
Links: Guardian report
Date: 2005-May
The government began consultation on proposals to update the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 to include discrimination against pregnancy and maternity leave, and to outlaw sexual harassment in employment and vocational training.
Source: Equality and Diversity: Updating the Sex Discrimination Act, Department of Trade and Industry (0870 150 2500)
Links: Consultation document (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | DTI press release
Date: 2005-Mar
A research report said that although some women s immediate financial position had improved under Labour governments since 1997, the root causes of income inequality between men and women had not been addressed.
Source: Kate Bellamy and Katherine Rake, Money, Money, Money: Is it still a rich man s world? - An audit of women s economic welfare in Britain today, Fawcett Society (020 7253 2598)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Mar
A report on black and minority ethnic women drew together research and policy analysis, and called for multiple discrimination to be tackled. Black and minority ethnic women were almost entirely absent from the ranks of decision-makers.
Source: Powerless, Poor and Passed Over: Black and minority ethnic women in the UK, Fawcett Society (020 7253 2598)
Links: Guardian report
Date: 2005-Feb