Platform 51

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Categories: education and skills, equality, jobs and work, politics and parliament
Monday, 31 January 2011
There is nothing complicated about the offside rule

Inequality in employment

If Andy Gray had said: "more women should know the offside rule" he might still have a job. But when Andy Gray said "women don't know the offside rule" he highlighted the limitations and discrimination girls and women face in the world of employment. There is absolutely nothing about the offside rule women cannot understand, but many feel that football is such a male domain that women do not belong there.

Last week in The Times Phillip Collins wrote an article entitled The advance of women in work is still in progress in which he argued that women are facing opposition to equality in many areas not just sport. We agree and our response to Phillip Collins' article was printed in The Times today. It said:

Sir, Philip Collins ("The advance of women in work is still in progress" Jan 28) represents the views and experiences of the thousands of women we work with when he argues that it is not just in sport that sexism is still rife. From the careers advice girls receive in schools to the pensions they receive, women are still facing serious discrimination and disadvantage. We know from the girls and women we speak to every day that their aspirations and opportunities are consistently limited by stereotyping and an outdated idea of the kinds of work women should do. The consequences of this inequality in employment are clear to see with twice as many young women living in poverty as young men. This is not just a problem for women, but something that affects all our lives. If girls and women are not able to meet their potential in their personal and work lives, it is not just those individuals that suffer, but children, families and employers, who are missing out.

What is encouraging is that Sky TV took prompt action, and by sacking Andy Gray sent out a clear message: discrimination against women will not be tolerated.

What is also encouraging is that Sian Massey was on the pitch as an assistant referee in the first place. Women are starting to move into traditionally male spheres, but there is still a very long way to go.

At Platform 51 we support girls and women to aspire to more and we let them know what is possible. We run careers days to give girls a chance to try out male-dominated occupations such as building, carpentry and plumbing. We campaign for women to get chances to work in predominently male job sectors and we provide evidence to the Government, officials and relevant bodies to demonstrate the impact that discrimination has on women throughout their lives.