Brexit has loomed over the future of the United Kingdom (UK) for over four years now. Even though its official exit from the European Union (EU) happened back in January 2020, it was unclear whether it would leave the EU with a deal or not. Either way, the economy was expected to take a hit, and the impending economic blow of Brexit was only exacerbated by the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that the UK and the EU have reached a deal before the December 31 deadline, many experts have expressed serious concern about how this divorce is set to affect women, who already form a marginalised section of society.
Past recessions have demonstrated that when the economy sustains a blow, women and non-white communities bear the brunt of the losses, with individuals who belong to both categories impacted even more heavily. For example, a study on the gendered impact of the 2008-9 financial crisis, led by Hélène Périvier, showed that austerity measures in the UK first targeted the social services sector and education, which are disproportionately staffed by women. The study reasoned that, alongside cuts to social security and other social safety nets, which women and Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities are more likely to rely on due to their comparatively weaker financial standing, these measures further weakened the “economic position of women relative to men”. Périvier’s study further showed that a higher percentage of women live in poverty and work in part-time jobs compared to men, thus making their jobs more vulnerable to layoffs and wage cuts. Furthermore, given that economic contractions are often followed by cuts to social security, and that social security is often only available to full-time workers, recessions are likely to impact women first and hardest.
A study by the University of Surrey estimates that the UK economy is set to contract by 3.9% in the next 15 years. Hence, there are legitimate fears that this may lead to similar austerity measures to 2008 and that this economic downturn will be accompanied by job losses. This impact will be amplified in industries that have been heavily dependent on trade with the EU, such as clothing and textiles, whose workforces are predominantly female. Other female-dominated sectors like health and social care are similarly at risk. In fact, the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) recorded a mass departure of over 10,000 EU staff following the referendum due to concerns about their futures in a post-Brexit economy.
Job security, of course, is tangentially linked to food security. Some experts have argued that it could become harder for families to manage their budgets, as the UK’s reliance on EU food imports may push up prices, especially if the pound falls in value. In the face of this strife, women’s physical security is also at risk, given that economic hardship is often correlated with higher rates of domestic violence and abuse. During the ongoing pandemic, which has gravely affected the finances of several families, police in England and Wales recorded 259,324 domestic abuse offences between March and June, up 7% from the same period in 2019. Further, around 20% of all recorded offences were flagged as domestic abuse-related during these months—compared to less than 15% in previous years.
Aside from the economic impact, the UK’s withdrawal from the Union is also expected to weaken legal protections for women. The EU is also renowned for upholding and promoting women’s rights and gender equality. EU funds have played a vital role in sustaining women’s initiatives, like supporting survivors of sexualised and domestic violence that have been critical for multiple women in the post-conflict society of Northern Ireland. Furthermore, most of the laws that have safeguarded equality and workplace rights that women benefit from were founded and strengthened through the EU and compelled member nations, including the UK, to implement the bloc’s resolutions and directives into their national laws. However, some of these laws and long-established social protections are now at risk of being repealed, such as the Pregnant Workers Directive, Working Time Directive (which guarantees 20 paid vacation days), sexual harassment regulations, and equal pay and anti-discrimination laws. Going forward, violations of these laws can no longer be challenged in European courts, putting several legal protections for women at risk. Fortunately, however, former Prime Minister Theresa May included a commitment in her agreements of the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill to maintain the aforementioned protections post Brexit, but these laws are vulnerable to alterations by future governments.
Admittedly, there are several women who voted in affirmation of Brexit because it may enable the UK to legislate newer, more progressive laws for British women. “When we bring back our sovereignty, it empowers women, such as myself, to be able to make decisions that protect my rights,” said Lucy Harris, director of the Leavers of Britain group and MEP for the Brexit Party. However, the EU mandate never held British women back from doing so in the first place.
Other leavers have remarked that leaving the EU will free up funds to be redistributed towards women’s causes. For example, Dr Sonia Zachariah, a long-serving doctor in the NHS, says, “There is a deep concern for funding for various women’s services that come from the EU to suffer. The EU Working Directive did factor in all this, but equally, the UK paid a lot to EU towards these and there is hope that some of these funds can be redeployed towards women’s services. There might be a period of flux helped by the pandemic but I very much doubt it will be doom and gloom.”
However, Boris Johnson’s administration has already promised to cut back on “red tape” by deregulating industries in the aftermath of Britain’s decoupling from the EU. While the PM has not specifically indicated that he will repeal laws that seek to encourage gender parity, his voting record offers little comfort. In 2015, Johnson voted against requiring an annual report on the gender pay gap and made recommendations to suspend the publication of the report altogether. He has also voted against studying the impact of government policies on impact and been largely absent for votes on abortion and same-sex marriage. Therefore, at this stage, it seems unlikely that withdrawal from the UK will lead to the redistribution of funds towards gendered issues.
Brexit and the ongoing pandemic have now placed gendered issues in the backseat. The UK must seek to recognise the unique struggles of its women and seek to uphold legislation that shields its most vulnerable citizens. Ultimately, women’s issues are national issues. More financially, legally, and physically secure citizens can only aid Britain’s recovery from the current pandemic and limit the economic impact of leaving the European Union.
Will Brexit Wreck-It For Women?
As the UK finalises its deal with the EU, concerns regarding the upholding of women’s issues have come to the fore. Here’s what’s at risk.
January 8, 2021
SOURCE: EU IN BRUM