news
1st September 2009: The Sex and Power Report claims it will take centuries before women are equally represented in Parliament
Five years on from the first Sex and Power report, the Commission publishes its first survey on women in positions of power and influence.
Part of the Commission’s Working Better project, the Sex and Power report reveals women hold just 11 per cent of FTSE 100 directorships and only 19.3 per cent of the positions in Parliament.
This year, there are fewer women holding top posts in 12 of the 25 categories for which figures are available. In another five categories, the number of women remains unchanged since 2007’s index. Women’s representation has increased in just eight areas.
The report traditionally estimates the number of years it will take for women to achieve equality in key areas at the present rate of progress. This year’s report indicates it will now take 15 years longer (55 years in total) for women to achieve equal status at senior levels in the judiciary, and women directors in FTSE 100 companies could be waiting eight years longer (73 years in total).
If women were to achieve equal representation among Britain’s 31,000 top positions of power, the Commission estimates nearly 5700 ‘missing’ women would rise through the ranks to positions of real influence.
Nicola Brewer, the Chief Executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said:
'Young women's aspiration is in danger of giving way to frustration. Many of them are now excelling at school and are achieving great things in higher education. And they are keen to balance a family with a rewarding career. But workplaces forged in an era of 'stay at home mums' and 'breadwinner dads' are putting too many barriers in the way - resulting in an avoidable loss of talent at the top.'
‘We always speak of a glass ceiling. These figures reveal that in some cases it appears to be made of reinforced concrete. We need radical change to support those who are doing great work and help those who want to work better and release talent.’
'The Commission’s report argues that today's findings are not just a 'women's issue' but are a powerful symptom of a wider failure. The report asks in what other ways are old-fashioned, inflexible ways of working preventing Britain from tapping into talent - whether that of women or other under-represented groups such as disabled people, ethnic minorities or those with caring responsibilities. Britain cannot afford to go on marginalising or rejecting talented people who fail to fit into traditional work patterns.'
