Speaking at an International Women’s Day event in Liverpool* today (Saturday), UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea paid tribute to the city’s tireless women campaigners and stressed the union’s continued commitment to speak up for women everywhere.
Addressing people attending the seminar about the rise of misogny and violence against women, Christina said:
“This city has been home to many notable outspoken women down the years. Bessie Braddock or ‘Battling Bessie’ as she was sometimes known, became an MP in 1945 and campaigned tirelessly for better housing.
“Dorothy Kuya, who fought all her adult life for social justice, and the rights of women and children. She led the campaign to establish Liverpool’s International Slavery Museum.
“And Eleanor Rathbone, suffragette and MP, and a campaigner for family allowance and women’s rights. The Family Allowances Act, which she helped pass into law, had a huge impact on poorer families.
“The campaigning never stops. Today, UNISON, with its million-plus women members, continues to use its influence to push for change, and to speak up whenever there is injustice, discrimination or abuse.
“The vast majority of those delivering public services are women. Without women, those services couldn’t function.
“Without women, hospitals would struggle to staff wards. And without women, there would be fewer workers to look after people in care homes.
“Or to prepare school meals, or to do so many jobs right across our essential public services.
“Yet it’s women who are more likely than men to be exploited in the workplace. To be on low wages, unfair contracts, and face abuse at the hands of unscrupulous employers.
“They’re also at greater risk of physical or sexual violence and harassment. Just for doing their jobs.
“Imagine going to work and being punched, bitten, spat at, choked and headbutted. Or stabbed.
“The publication Nursing Times recently carried out research with UNISON and found nurses and midwives are forced to endure this appalling abuse.
“In some cases, violence is a daily reality. And the majority of those targeted are women.
“Among them, a hospital nurse threatened with a gun while she assessed a patient.
“A healthcare support worker who was punched, kicked and had a bedpan of urine thrown over her.
“And just recently an A&E nurse stabbed in the neck – thankfully now recovering, but still with potentially life-changing injuries.
“That’s one end of the spectrum. But sexism and misogyny are also still facts of life for women.
“UNISON’s own data confirms this. In local government, a quarter of staff have experienced sexual harassment while at work. And the majority of those affected were female.
“No one should feel like they’re not safe from physical or sexual violence at work. Or in any area of their lives.
“Violence and misogyny are also daily occurrences in communities. And in the very place where women should expect to be safe – their homes.
“Louise Hunt was a recent victim of rape and male violence. Her former boyfriend sexually violated her, held her captive, then murdered Louise, her sister and her mother.
“Her killer had searched online for videos posted by Andrew Tate. A self-confessed misogynist who once said women should ‘bear responsibility’ for sexual assault.
“How much Tate influenced the actions of Louise Hunt’s murderer will never be known. But what we do know is that many men regard Tate as a hero.
“This demonstrates how important it is that as women we work together with our male allies, fathers, sons and brothers.
“That we involve them to counter male stereotypes, misogynistic behaviour and violence towards women and girls.
“Only this week, the safeguarding minister Jess Phillips MP read out the names of women thought to have been killed by men in the UK in the past year.
“There were 95 names on that list. It took Jess five minutes to reach the end. Another reminder that we need to redouble our efforts to keep women and girls safe from harm.
“In the UK and around the world, women’s voices continue to be silenced. Change can only begin when attitudes change, including in the workplace. When it’s finally recognised that the work done by women is as valuable as the contribution made by men.
“Whether it’s in workplaces, homes or elsewhere, UNISON will keep on pushing for a safer world. For us, our daughters and our granddaughters.”
Notes to editors:
– *Christina McAnea will be speaking from 1.10pm today (Saturday) at the Quaker Meeting House, 22 School Lane, Liverpool L1 3BT. The event is called The rise of misogyny and violence against women and girls: a new epidemic. It runs from 1pm until 5.30pm.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
Media contact:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
The article Women not safe from violence and misogyny, including at work first appeared on the UNISON National site.
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