Gender inequality lies in the interaction between work and care. Women are prevented from progressing at work because they shoulder the bulk of caring responsibilities at home. According to the Office for National Statistics, in the UK, women carry out 60% more domestic labour than men, with mothers providing 74% of total childcare. We know there is a strong desire from millennials for better work-life balance, yet cultural norms about caring responsibilities and the ‘ideal’, unencumbered worker continue to persist. The Modern Families Index 2017 showed that 44% of fathers lied or altered the truth to their employers about family life conflicting with work.
The ground-breaking Equal Lives project, in partnership with Santander UK, will aim to explore and redress the balance of work and care between men and women. It highlights issues with existing policies and practices, before going on to present solutions.
What can men and woman can do to achieve gender equality? How will it benefit businesses and all of society?
Do men want to take on more care-related responsibilities? Are they supported by their employers to do so?
And when their partner is more involved at home, are women more likely to progress and be involved in the labour market?
Come along to this free guest lecture to hear about this ground-breaking project and answers to these questions.