Black and Asian women and women from ethnic minority backgrounds were more likely to say they were struggling to make ends meet Photo: Shutterstock
The asks we are supporting address making women safe from violence and abuse, investment in childcare, support for all women regardless of their immigration status and more.
What the MU is calling for
The UK Government has focused on reopening the economy while sidelining childcare and social care infrastructure. Pubs, hairdressers and cinemas are open again – but for many parents, a lack of childcare means they cannot go back to work. Women still do the majority of unpaid care and the situation will be hardest for single parents, 90% of whom are women.
Existing inequalities have been worsened by the coronavirus outbreak. Black and Asian women and women from ethnic minority backgrounds were more likely to say they were struggling to make ends meet and feed their children during lockdown than white women. Social isolation has hit disabled women hardest, with 56% saying they’ve struggled to cope.
Together as a coalition, we've made recommendations for the UK Government on the following areas:
- Prioritising care
- Safeguarding women’s incomes
- Public health and protecting women from a second wave
- Addressing the disproportionate impact on Black, Asian and ethnic minority women
- Making women safe from violence and abuse
- Disabled women and older women, and self-isolating and shielding households
- Women in prison
- Women's representation in crisis decision making
This urgent call to action has been led by The Fawcett Society with support from the Women’s Budget Group, Women’s Aid, Women for Refugee Women, Women’s Equality Network Wales, Engender, Young Women’s Trust, Imkaan, Maternity Action and Women in Prison.
Take action now
Please download the Fawcett Society’s briefing from their website and send it to your MP, urging them to make sure women and girls are not left behind as lockdown is lifted.
Please also share it on social media using the hashtag #MakeWomenVisible.