The latest research from Fawcett

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It's been busy at Fawcett, with two new pieces of research about workplaces that work for women out this week.

A widespread toxic 'tech bro' culture is pushing women out of the tech sector, with 1 in 5 men working in tech roles believing that women are naturally less suited to working in the sector. That's one of the key findings of System Update: Addressing the Gender Gap in Tech, our new research in partnership with Virgin Media O2.

Paths to Parenthood: Uplifting Mothers at Work is the second of two reports produced in partnership with Totaljobs, and demonstrates the disproportionate impact childcare responsibilities have on women and their careers.

We've made huge strides together for women at work, but clearly there is still so much to be done to create workplaces that truly work for women. The critical, high-quality research we do in the fight for gender equality is only possible because of Fawcett members. Join our movement today.

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System Update: Addressing the Gender Gap in Tech, in partnership with VMO2, s the culmination of eight months of extensive research, interviews and polling with women and men who work in tech roles, those who have recently left, and women who have qualifications but are not currently working in the sector.

This report found that women are being pushed out of the sector by sexist ideas about their ability: 43% of women in the tech sector think about leaving their role at least once a week, and 72% of women in tech roles have experienced at least one form of sexism at work. Almost three in four Black and minoritised women have experienced racism at work.

Chief Executive Jemima Olchawski said "this report rings alarm bells for a sector that prides itself on being future-facing. It's unacceptable that so many women are being locked out of tech because damaging and plain wrong sexist ideas are thriving in a predominantly male workforce."

The ongoing challenges that come with balancing childcare with work have forced over 249,124 working mothers of children aged 4 or under to leave their employer due to a lack of childcare support. That's a key finding from our second of two reports produced in partnership with Totaljobs, Paths to Parenthood: Uplifting Mothers at Work.

The few years that a mother spends looking after children is a tiny proportion of her working life, and yet outdated prejudices and assumptions hold women back and keep them stuck in roles below their capabilities.

This report and employer's guide calls on businesses and government to prioritise ending the motherhood penalty by properly supporting women to balance their work and caring responsibilities.

Fawcett is also so proud to be a founding member of the Early Education and Childcare Coalition, who are launching their first piece of research this week, also on childcare: Retention and Return: Delivering the Expansion of Early Years Entitlement in England.

This research published by the Coalition and the University of Leeds reveals the scale of the workforce crisis in the early years sector. As the Government prepares to roll out the first phase of the 'biggest expansion of childcare in history', researchers found that even using conservative estimates, the number of childcare places in England would need to grow by 6% in order to meet demand.

But many nursery settings say they are unlikely to offer the new entitlement because of an inability to recruit and retain qualified staff.

Creating Workplaces That Work For Women

Read more about Fawcett's campaigning on equality at work.

👷‍♀️ Equal Pay Day 2023 is November 22
👩‍💼 Following months and years of campaigning from Fawcett and our partners, the Worker Protection Act is now law, creating a preventative duty for employers against sexual harassment
👩‍⚕️ Read The Ethnicity Motherhood Pay Penalty, our report into the compounded effects of the motherhood penalty for Black and minoritised women at work
👷‍♀️ Read Broken Ladders: The Myth of Meritocracy for Women of Colour in the Workplace
👩‍💼 Make use of our Equal Pay Advice Service

High-quality research is critical to our fight for gender equality, and we can't do it without the support of members.

Fawcett members are part of an unstoppable movement towards a more equal world where women and girls are free to fulfil our potential. Join today and help us forge the way.

Become a member

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