An article examined the influence of early health on relations between long-term social role histories and health in mid-life. Women who occupied multiple roles over the long term reported relatively good health at age 54, and this was not explained by early health. Women with weak long-term ties to the labour market were more likely to be obese at age 53.
Source: Anne McMunn, Mel Bartley, Rebecca Hardy and Diana Kuh, 'Life course social roles and women s health in mid-life: causation or selection?', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Volume 60 Number 6
Links: Abstract | BBC report
Date: 2006-Jun
The government published the results of consultation on the criminalization of forced marriage. Most respondents felt that the disadvantages of creating new legislation would outweigh the advantages, and potentially drive forced marriage underground. The government had therefore decided not to proceed with legislative measures.
Source: Forced Marriage: A Wrong Not A Right - Summary of responses to the consultation on the criminalisation of forced marriage, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (020 7008 1500) | Press release 7 June 2006, Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Consultation responses | Home Office press release | MPA press release | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Jun
The sex equality watchdog published a report summarizing statistical information about women and men in Wales. It focused on changes since the 1970s for women and men in terms of education, employment, and public life.
Source: Facts About Women & Men in Wales 2006, Equal Opportunities Commission Wales (029 2034 3552)
Links: Report | EOC press release
Date: 2006-May
The government announced the creation of a new Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), replacing the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. It included a remit to promote community cohesion (previously under the Home Office) and equality (previously split between various departments), as well as responsibility for housing, urban regeneration, planning, and local government. The Women and Equality Unit moved to the DCLG, which also became the sponsor department for the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights. The Prime Minister wrote to the newly appointed Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (following a Cabinet reshuffle), setting out policy priorities for her Department.
Source: Press release 5 May 2006, 10 Downing Street (020 7270 1234) | Letter from Tony Blair MP (Prime Minister) to Ruth Kelly MP (Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government), 9 May 2006
Links: Downing St press release | PM letter
Date: 2006-May
The sex equality watchdog published a report summarizing statistical information about women and men in Scotland. It focused on changes since the 1970s for women and men in terms of education, employment, and public life.
Source: Facts About Women & Men in Scotland 2006, Equal Opportunities Commission Scotland (0845 601 5904)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-May
A new edition of a book examined the ways in which women organized to secure social change that enhanced the quality of life at individual and community levels.
Source: Lena Dominelli, Women and Community Action (Revised second edition), Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2006-May
An article examined health and social science research and literature in order to analyze the relationship between child health and gender.
Source: Lorraine Green, 'An unhealthy neglect? Examining the relationship between child health and gender in research and policy', Critical Social Policy, Volume 26 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Apr
An article examined recent research that had prioritized children's accounts of their experiences of their daily lives. It focused on gender differences in accounts of family life, friendships, use of public space, use of out-of-school care, popular culture and consumption, and children's views of gender differences.
Source: Virginia Morrow, 'Understanding gender differences in context: implications for young children's everyday lives', Children & Society, Volume 20 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Apr
A report said that millions of women suffered from low self-esteem which adversely affected their mental health, relationships, work prospects, and quality of life.
Source: I'm Not Good Enough': Women and low self-esteem, Priory Group (01372 860 400)
Links: Report | Priory press release
Date: 2006-Mar
An article said that the Good Friday Agreement, as a framework document, offered some opportunity for the expansion of women s political and civil citizenship rights.
Source: Katherine Side, 'Contract, charity, and honourable entitlement: social citizenship and the 1967 Abortion Act in Northern Ireland after the Good Friday Agreement', Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society, Volume 13 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Mar
The report of an official taskforce examined ways of encouraging and inspiring more women from a minority-ethnic background to get involved in public life.
Source: Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Women Councillors' Taskforce Report, Government Equalities Office (020 7944 0601)
Links: Report | GEO press release
Date: 2006-Jan
A report said that Muslim women often saw the adoption of the Hijab as liberating, and a means to achieving gender equity in an increasingly gender-exploitative wider society.
Source: Saied Ameli and Arzu Merali, Hijab, Meaning, Identity, Otherization and Politics: British Muslim Women, Islamic Human Rights Commission (020 8904 4222)
Links: IHRC press release
Date: 2006-Jan
A series of articles examined aspects of the role of gender at different stages of the life cycle.
Source: Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Volume 21 Number 3
Links: Table of contents
Date: 2006-Jan
An article said that older women could operate autonomously in health matters, and could substantially influence the development of healthy communities: but this could sometimes be at a personal cost.
Source: Margaret Boneham and Judith Sixsmith, 'The voices of older women in a disadvantaged community: issues of health and social capital', Social Science & Medicine Volume 62 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Jan