Sex inequality in Wales

The facts

In 2007, there were slightly more females (759,400) than males (692,900) in South Wales.  There are 424,300 females of working age and 452,000 males.

Women are paid over 12 per cent less than men across a range of sectors, increasing to 22 per cent when part-time workers are included. Occupational segregation continues to feed pay differences, where at age 40 men are earning on average 27% more than women. The large proportion of women in part-time jobs also contributes to this.

Some people have intrinsic bias about male and female capabilities, which impacts negatively on women’s career advancement.

know your rights

Unlawful sex discrimination happens when someone is treated unfairly because of their gender. Women, men and transsexual people can all experience sex discrimination.

Sex discrimination also includes treating someone less favourably because they are married or in a civil partnership: for example, by not hiring married women.

Sex equality does not imply that women and men are the same, but that they have equal value and should be accorded equal treatment.

The denial of women’s basic human rights is a major cause of poverty.

Women often have less recourse than men to legal recognition and protection, as well as lower access to public knowledge and information, and less decision-making power both within and outside the home. Women in many parts of the world frequently have little control over fertility, sexuality and marital choices.

This systematic discrimination reduces women’s public participation, often increases their vulnerability to poverty, violence and HIV, and results in women representing a disproportionate percentage of the poor population of the world.

Sex equality gives women and men the same entitlements to all aspects of human development, including economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights; the same level of respect; the same opportunities to make choices; and the same level of power to shape the outcomes of these choices

The Equality Act 2010 provides rights under sex discrimination at work, in education, as a consumer and in public services.