News/Articles
Women still have to decide between family and career
A recent research published by The Economic Journal titled “The Price of Reconciliation: Part-Time Work, Families and Women's Satisfaction” shows again how women in business are forced to waste their talents to find jobs that allow them to balance their professional and family life. For further information please read the full report.

Equality Challenge Unit (ECU) publishes ‘Trans Staff and Students in Higher Education Guidance 2008’
The Guidance describes the issues that may arise when a member of staff or a student is undergoing gender reassignment, summarises the law, and suggests clear steps to follow, drawing on examples and case studies from higher education institutions (HEIs) that have been through this process. To view the full report please visit http://www.ecu.ac.uk/publications/guidancepublications/20080304-TransStaffandStudents.pdf

Terms
Sexual harassment
Unwanted or uninvited sexual conduct, or other unwelcome conduct with sexual connotations, including unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct. It is unlawful under the SDA and employers may be liable for discriminatory acts carried out by employees.  

Sexual discrimination
(UN Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, 1979) ‘Any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field.’

Transgender
The term transgender broadly includes pre-operative, post-operative, and non-operative transsexual people; cross-dressers; intersexuals and more generally anyone whose gender identity or expression differs from conventional expectations of masculinity or femininity.

Facts

			Key Indicators of Women's position in Britain provides a comprehensive overview of available up-to-date statistics on women in Britain.
			Studies show that in the EU as a whole, women doing the same work as men are paid only 76% of the gross hourly wage men earn ; the employment rate for women is 51.2%, compared to 70.8% for men and 83% of part-time workers are women.(EIRO Eurostat data Statistics in focus 5/2001 - Theme 3 )
			As the law currently stands, people who are transgender are protected against discrimination in the provision of education and employment/vocational training.However they are not protected from discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services. This means that a transgender person can be denied access to basic services, such as transport, health care, education or housing.

Publications
The Equal Opportunites Commission has published some guidelines specifically for employers on sexual harassment cases in the workplace.

EOC annual facts and figures relating to women and men.

Routes to power - Summary of research: A research document by Fawcett on the under-representation of the Ethnic minority women in positions of power and senior decision making authorities across politics and the public, private and voluntary sectors.

Legislation

			The Sex Discrimination Act (1975, amended 1986) The SDA makes it unlawful to discriminate on the grounds of sex or marital status. It applies to both males and females. The 1986 Amendment removes certain restrictions applying to the working hours and working conditions of women. A further recent amendment places the burden of proof with the employer, in line with the European Directive. New legislation is planned to provide explicit protection from discrimination in relation to sexual orientation.
			Equal Pay Act 1970 (Amended 1983) The EPA makes it unlawful to offer different pay and conditions where women and men are doing the same or like work or rated as equivalent in the same employment.
			Employment Rights Act 1996 Provides that any dismissal for a pregnancy related reason is unfair. There is no length of service qualification for bringing a claim of unfair dismissal on grounds of pregnancy.
			The Social Security Act 1989 Implemented the EC Directive of 1986 relating to the principle of equal treatment for men and women in occupational social security schemes.
			The EOC code of practice on sex discrimination in employment Explains the statutory requirements of the Act and gives advice on measures to both eliminate discrimination and promote equality. The code can be taken into account by tribunals in determining an issue before the tribunal.
			Sex discrimination (gender reassignment) regulations 1999 An amendment was introduced to the Sex Discrimination Act in 1999 to protect workers undergoing gender reassignment from discrimination at work. For further information see www.eoc.org.uk.
			Equality Duty A gender equality duty will require service providers and public sector employers to design employment and services with the different needs of women and men in mind.
			Equality bill