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Women In Football and the TUC - Sexism in the Workplace Event

 Sexism in the Workplace was the topic of conversation at the latest Women in Football event in partnership with the Trade Union Congress at their headquarters in London.

 WiF director and board member Jo Tongue chaired the proceedings which began with a keynote speech from the first ever woman to hold the position of General Secretary of the TUC, Frances O’Grady.

 “Football is at the heart of our culture,” Frances began.

 “Football has always been a microcosm of British life. It can shape and reflect attitudes to women in society.”

 “And women remain underrepresented in football despite the women’s game coming on leaps and bounds.”

 Frances O’Grady went on to speak of the alarming statistics found by the recent TUC research conducted in collaboration with the Everyday Sexism Project.

 The statistics showed that more than half (52%) of women, and nearly two-thirds (63%) of women aged 18-24 years old surveyed said they had experienced sexual harassment at work.

 For details of the full report please click here

 Frances concluded by outlining the three priorities for the TUC for tackling sexism in football:

 “Our first task is to get more women into senior positions in the football industry. Women remain under-represented in key institutions, boards and committees, in the sport’s grassroots and in the media. We need women making the big decisions.” she said.

 “Secondly, we need to tackle sexual harassment in football – and in other workplaces. It’s a huge issue for women in modern Britain.

 “What some people consider “just a bit of banter” is anything but. This isn’t about women being able to take a joke or not. Sexual harassment is undermining and humiliating and victims are often left feeling ashamed and frightened.

 “Our third priority is for unions to organise the female network in football. The best protection any woman worker can have is carrying that union card. Teamwork matters as much off the pitch as it does on it.

 Frances O’Grady’s final point was a clear message for her audience:

 “We want to work with women in football so together we can kick sexism out of football once and for all.”

 Following Frances’ speech panellists Simone Pound, Sue Unerman, Sue Ferns and Richard Bevan were invited to the stage where they were asked about the make-up of modern day unions and their purpose.

 The panellists also commented on issues which ranged from what sexism looks like to the glass ceiling in football to football clubs’ respect for Employment Law and the living wage.

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