It’s no secret that since coming to power the Coalition Government has embarked on an unprecedented programme of cuts and reforms to public spending and the public sector the like of which has never been seen before.
But what about the impact on women? Research has shown that 73 per cent of the savings identified in the 2011 Autumn Financial Statement will come from women's pockets. This is because many of the benefits to be cut or frozen – such as the Health in Pregnancy Grant, the Sure Start Maternity Grant and Housing Benefit – are benefits that more women than men rely on.
In addition reforms and fee rises in both further and higher education threaten to cut women and particularly mothers out of education altogether.
As if this wasn’t enough, women graduates face bleak employment prospects. Official figures in February 2012 showed that unemployment for women had hit its highest level since 1987 and is rising at a faster rate than for men.
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