Should more women be in charge?

Under-18s debate gender and power with politicians

 

4-22 March 2013

 

Headsup.org.uk

 

Why is there still a pay gap between men and women? Why are there so few female MPs? Why are the top jobs in business and the media dominated by men?

 

From Monday 4 March the HeadsUp forum – Should more women be in charge? – will be open for under-18s to debate with politicians and key decision-makers what is holding women back from reaching the top of their professions.

 

Dame Tessa Jowell MP, one of the participants in the forum, says: ‘When I was Women’s Minister I did a fairly big piece of work interviewing 500 young women around the country to understand the pay gap and to understand to what extent it was a given which victimised young women in the workplace and to what extent it represented the nature of their choices. What really shocked me about that consultation was how so many girls linked their lack of progression to dissatisfaction with their appearance.  The body image phenomenon is an understated part of this whole dynamic.’

 

The Should more women be in charge? debate coincides with International Women’s Day (8 March) and runs from Monday 4 March - Friday 22 March. It will remain open 24 hours a day over the three-week period to allow users the opportunity to drop in and out of the debate. Discussion topics include;

 

  • Why is there still a gap between men and women’s pay? – Do women still face discrimination in the workplace? Why are the majority of the world’s poor women and not men?
  • Does it matter whether your MP is male or female? – What puts women off politics? How can we get more women into the top political jobs?
  • Is childcare still seen as primarily a woman’s job? Will changing maternity leave to parental leave change attitudes to childcare? Are women discriminated against by employers for having children?
  • Why are sectors like journalism and business still mostly male? - Should we use the law to get more women in the boardroom? Do we need more female role models in the scientific & technology industries?

 

HeadsUp is an online space where young people can discuss political issues that affect them. The forum, a safe moderated space, can help students to increase their own political awareness, and links them with key decision-makers in the subject area so their voices are heard by those who matter.

 

Background information is provided so that students can learn about the issues and back up their arguments with facts and figures, ensuring that the debates are well-informed and of high quality.

 

The forum is also an effective teaching resource, particularly used for the Citizenship curriculum, with each debate supported by lesson plans and activities which can be used in class.

 

Decision-makers confirmed for the debate include:

 

  • Dame Tessa Jowell MP
  • Ann McKechin MP
  • Baroness Campbell
  • Baroness Deech
  • Baroness Lister
  • Alison Johnstone MSP
  • Rosemary Butler AM – Presiding Officer, National Assembly for Wales
  • Phil Bennion MEP
  • Liz Gardiner – Working Families

 

You can see all the statements from decision-makers taking part in this debate at Who’s Listening?

 

If you are an MP, Peer, MSP, AM or MEP who is interested in issues of gender and would like to be involved in the debate, please contact HeadsUp Project Manager, Beccy Allen at beccy@hansardsociety.org.uk for more information.

 

Editors' Notes

  •  HeadsUp is an innovative website where 11-18 year olds debate political issues and learn about the political process. The site is a non-partisan, cross-party educational resource that provides a secure, structured and student-centred discussion platform.

 

  • The final HeadsUp forum planned for the 2012-13 school year is:
    • 29 April - 17 May 2013 - Are we living our lives online?

 

  • Two ways to register to participate in HeadsUp:
    • Young People - If you are aged 11-18 and want to get in on the action you need to complete the Student Sign Up Form.
    • Teachers/youth workers - can register a whole class/school year/group by completing our Teachers Registration Form.

 

  • All HeadsUp forums are open to be viewed and the debate followed by the public. Participants need to register or log in to post comments (11-18s and supporting teachers/youth workers only).

 

  • The project is part-funded by the House of Commons.

 

  • There are over 1,000 schools currently registered with HeadsUp.

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