Gender and Social Justice in Wales

Nickie Charles & Charlotte Aull Davies

Description

This book assesses how policies developed by the National Assembly for Wales are affecting gender inequalities and investigates whether they are having an impact on social justice for women in Wales. In 1999 the first elections to devolved governments took place in Scotland and Wales. In Wales this resulted in 40 per cent of Assembly Members being women. In 2003 this proportion increased to 50 per cent which makes the National Assembly for Wales 'the first legislative body with equal numbers of men and women in the world' ("The Guardian", 3/5/03). This new gender balance of political representatives is a significant change in the gendering of political institutions and this, together with the creation of a new tier of government, has the potential to create new opportunities for the development of social policies which address gender and other social inequalities. Focusing on distinct policy domains, this book explores gender politics in a devolved Wales. Each chapter investigates a particular aspect of social policy, exploring the way it has developed since devolution and the extent to which considerations of gender and social justice for women are central to this development. The empirical chapters which form the core of the book are situated theoretically and politically by the first chapter which discusses how gender and social justice can be theorised and explores devolution and its relation to gender politics in Wales.
Part I: Gender, political representation and social justice Chapter 1. Setting the scene: devolution, gender politics and social justice, Nickie Charles Chapter 2. Gender mainstreaming and public policy in post-devolution Wales, Paul Chaney Chapter 3. Gender and political representation: views from the grassroots, Sandra Betts, Bangor University Part II: Social justice for women? Chapter 4. Devolution, gender and childcare: a distinctive agenda for Wales? Wendy Ball, Swansea University Chapter 5. Developing a domestic abuse strategy, Nickie Charles and Stephanie Jones, International College Wales Swansea Chapter 6. Mainstreaming Across the Equality Dimensions: Policy on Sexual Orientation in Wales, Alison Parken, Cardiff University Chapter 7. Making the world new for them: an exploration of women in power in the post-devolution Welsh education system, Sue Sanders, Chapter 8. Gendering housing policy, Susan Hutson and Tamsin Stirling Chapter 9. The material resources of older women in Wales and WAG policy responses, Vanessa Burholt, Swansea University Chapter 10. Devolution and Welsh language policy: a gender dimension? Charlotte Aull Davies Chapter 11. The future, Nickie Charles and Charlotte Aull Davies

Sujets

• Histoire
• Great Britain
• History
• Wales
• Europe

Informations

• Publié par: University of Wales Press
• Date de parution: 15 juin 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780708322697
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

Extrait

GENDER AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN WALES

Gender Studies in Wales Astudiaethau Rhywedd yng Nghymru

Series Editors Jane Aaron, University of Glamorgan Brec’hed Piette, University of Bangor Sian Rhiannon Williams, University of Wales Institute Cardiff

Series Advisory Board Deirdre Beddoe, Emeritus Professor Mihangel Morgan, Aberystwyth University Teresa Rees, Cardiff University

The aim of this series is to fill a current gap in knowledge. As a number of historians, sociologists and literary critics have for some time been pointing out, there is a dearth of published research on the characteristics and effects of gender difference in Wales, both as it affected lives in the past and as it continues to shape present-day experience. Socially constructed concepts of masculine and feminine difference influence every aspect of individuals’ lives; experiences in employment, in education, in culture and politics, as well as in personal relationships, are all shaped by them. Ethnic identities are also gendered; a country’s history affects its concepts of gender difference so that what is seen as appropriately ‘masculine’ or ‘fem- inine’ varies within different cultures. What is needed in the Welsh context is more detailed research on the ways in which gender differ- ence has operated and continues to operate within Welsh societies. Accordingly, this interdisciplinary and bilingual series of volumes on Gender Studies in Wales, authored by academics who are leaders in their particular fields of study, is designed to explore the diverse aspects of male and female identities in Wales, past and present. The series is bilingual, in the sense that some of its intended volumes will be in Welsh and some in English.

GENDER AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN WALES

Edited by Nickie Charles and Charlotte Aull Davies

CARDIFF UNIVERSITY OF WALES PRESS 2010

© The Contributors, 2010

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any material form (including photocopying or storing it in any medium by electronic means and whether or not transiently or incidentally to some other use of this publication) without the written permission of the copyright owner except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 or under the terms of a licence issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, Saffron House, 6–10 Kirby Street, London, EC1N 8TS. Applications for the copyright owner’s written permission to repro- duce any part of this publication should be addressed to The University of Wales Press, 10 Columbus Walk, Brigantine Place, Cardiff, CF10 4UP.

www.uwp.co.uk

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN 978-0-7083-2268-0 e-ISBN 978-0-7083-2269-7

The rights of the Contributors to be identified as authors of their contribu- tions has been asserted by them in accordance with sections 77, 78 and 79 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Printed in Wales by Dinefwr Press, Llandybïe

Tables and Figures Glossary Notes on Contributors

Contents

1 Setting the Scene: Devolution, Gender Politics and Social Justice Nickie Charles

I. GENDER, POLITICAL REPRESENTATION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

2 Delivery or Déjà Vu? Gender Mainstreaming and Public Policy in Post-devolution Wales Paul Chaney

3 Gender and Political Representation: Views from the Grass Roots Sandra Betts

II. SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR WOMEN?

4 Devolution, Gender and Childcare: A Distinctive Agenda for Wales? Wendy Ball

5 Developing a Domestic Abuse Strategy Nickie Charles and Stephanie Jones

vii ix xi

1

31

56

83

105

Contents

6 Mainstreaming Across the Equality Dimensions: Policy on Sexual Orientation in Wales Alison Parken

135

7 Making the World New? Education in Post-devolution Wales 160 Sue Sanders

8 Gendered Housing Policy: Women, Housing and Homelessness Susan Hutson and Tamsin Stirling

9 The Material Resources of Older Women in Wales and Welsh Assembly Government Policy Responses Vanessa Burholt

10 Devolution and Welsh Language Policy: A Gender Dimension? Charlotte Aull Davies

III. CONCLUSION

11 The Future Nickie Charles and Charlotte Aull Davies

Index

vi

184

208

228

247

263

3.1

7.1

7.2

7.3

7.4

8.1 9.1

9.2

2.1 2.2

5.1

8.1

Tables and Figures

Tables

Reasons for membership and participation in women’s organizations Distribution of full-time qualified teaching staff in maintained primary schools in Wales by sex Distribution of full-time qualified teaching staff in maintained primary schools in England by sex Distribution of full-time qualified teaching staff in maintained secondary schools in Wales by sex Distribution of full-time qualified teaching staff in maintained secondary schools in England by sex Homelessness under the Welsh Assembly Government Stepwise multiple linear regression model predicting material resources for men aged 50+ years in Wales Stepwise multiple linear regression model predicting material resources for women aged 50+ years in Wales

Figures

Examples of gender equality policy outcomes The Welsh Assembly Government’s equality impact assessment procedure Domestic abuse policy timeline and selected key policy achievements Women with dependent children compared with single households with a vulnerable member, 1999–2006

ACCAC

AM

BAWSO

Chwarae Teg

CRE Cymdeithas Tai Hafan (or Tai Hafan)

EHRC

EOC EOC (Wales)

Estyn

IDVA LGB

Glossary

Awdurdod Cymwysterau, Cwricwlwm ac Asesu Cymru / Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales. In 2006, ACCAC merged with the Welsh Assembly Government’s Department for Education Lifelong Learning and Skills (DELLS). Assembly Member (elected member of the National Assembly for Wales) Black Association of Women Step Out. Voluntary organization, affiliated to Welsh Women’s Aid, providing specialist services to black and minority ethnic women and children. An organization helping women to enhance their employment prospects. Commission for Racial Equality A housing association set up specifically to provide move-on accommodation for women and children leaving refuges. Equality and Human Rights Commission Equal Opportunities Commission Welsh regional office of Equal Opportunities Commission Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales Independent Domestic Violence Adviser Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual