The current situation is confusing and contradictory. We have:
- A Minister for Women and Equalities
- and a Minister for Equalities
- and a Minister for Women
This makes little sense (unless, perhaps if the main area of inequality was women). This site shows that, on gender issues, the vast majority of the imbalance is against men.
Current remits:
Minister | Remit |
for women and equalities | * policy on women * policy on sexual orientation and transgender equality * cross-government equality strategy and legislation |
for women | * overall responsibility for policy on gender equality. |
for equalities | * policy on sexual orientation and transgender equality * cross-government equality strategy and legislation |
It makes little sense that the ‘Minister for Women’ (one gender) is responsible for ‘gender equality’ (both genders). The term ‘women and equalities’ is a contradiction in terms. If they are ‘for women’, they cannot be ‘for equality’.
Equi-law proposal
Change the Cabinet-level post to ‘Minister for Equalities’.
Remit: Overall responsibility for implementing the Equality Act 2010.
The characteristics that are protected by the Equality Act 2010 are:
- age
- disability
- gender reassignment
- marriage or civil partnership (in employment only)
- pregnancy and maternity
- race
- religion or belief
- sex
- sexual orientation
Junior ministers
If there is to continue to be a Minister for Women, then this needs to be balanced with a Minister for Men who’s remit is to address the many issues identified in this site.