Trapped: poverty amongst women in Wales today

Poverty amongst women is widespread yet it is hidden by the way that poverty is measured, with limited action taken to address it.

This report, prepared for Chwarae Teg, lifts the lid on women’s experiences of poverty and makes some ground-breaking recommendations for change.

The report finds that women’s poverty is widespread, with single people being at especially high risk of having a low income. On other measures too, such as homelessness and lack of food, women are at greater risk than men. While some of the causes of poverty – work that does not pay enough, an inadequate benefits system and high costs – are the same as for men, women face an additional cause, namely breakdown of a relationship.

The report draws on analysis of statistics but also the experiences of 146 women on low incomes, who describe their struggles to make ends meet.

The report calls for:

1. An effective cross-government strategy to solve poverty amongst women as well as men
2. Support for women to enter and progress at work, payment of hte real Living Wage and support for flexible working patterns
3. Reforms to social security, including increasing choice and flexibility over payment arrangements for Universal Credit
4. A new childcare offer that provides free, part-time childcare from age 9 months to school entry for 48 weeks a year, coupled with free out of school care up to the age of 14.  Care should be available for every child whose parents want one.
5. Investment in community-based learning for adults and support for the transport needs of women and their families
6. Support for women’s financial independence.

Format: PDF
Language: English
Price:  free

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