Damning report exposes stark inequalities faced by women living in the North of England

Women in the North of England live shorter lives, work more hours for less pay, are more likely to be an unpaid carer, and more likely to live in poverty than women in other regions of England, according to new research co-authored by three Northumbria University academics.

Dr Kelly Stockdale, Dr Christina Cooper and Dr Mandy Cheetham from Northumbria all contributed to the research – published by Health Equity North – which has laid bare the unequal challenges faced by women living in the North of England.

The report exposes the growing regional inequalities over the last decade and the impact this has on women’s quality of life, health, work, their families and communities.

‘Woman of the North: Inequality, health and work'  finds that women living in the North have lower healthy life expectancy, fewer qualifications, worse mental health, and are more likely to suffer domestic violence or to end up in the criminal justice system than their counterparts in the rest of England. In addition, infant mortality is higher, and abortions are more common.

The economic cost of these inequalities is also explored in the report which estimates women in the North lose out on a staggering £132m every week, compared to what they would get paid if wages were the same as women in the rest of the country.

The report states that women in the North also contribute £10 billion of unpaid care to the UK economy each year.

Professor Monique Lhussier, Director for the Centre for Health and Social Equity at Northumbria University,  – whose research is also referenced within the report – said: “This is a crucially important piece of research, highlighting the broad range of inequalities faced by women in the North East, which rightfully challenges all service providers, HEIs, policy and decision makers to consider the importance of adopting a gendered lens in the delivery of their policies.

“This should be a call for action for all to meaningfully and sensitively play a part in giving all women, no matter their backgrounds or experiences, equitable opportunities.

“Through CHASE, we have been undertaking key impactful research for example in homelessness, informal and unpaid carers, care leavers, veterans and their families, all with a gendered lens where appropriate and it’s been great to see some of that work referenced within this report, as well as  author contributions from a number of Northumbria colleagues.”

The report, which has been backed by the North’s two female Mayors Tracy Brabin and Kim McGuinness, puts into sharp focus the devastating effects that austerity, the cost-of-living crisis, economic uncertainty, the pandemic and unequal funding formulas have had on women in northern regions.

Health Equity North is a virtual institute focused on place-based solutions to public health problems and health inequalities across the North of England. It brings together world-leading academic expertise from the Northern Health Science Alliance’s members of leading universities and hospitals.

A team of more than 70 academic, health, social care and policy professionals from across the North contributed to the report to explore some of the social determinants of health for women, and how they play out in the overall health of women in the region.

The extensive research covers employment and education, Universal Credit, poverty, caring, health and life expectancy, pregnancy and reproductive health, sexual health, mental health, domestic violence, criminal justice involvement, stigma, and marginalised women.

The report recommends a wide range of evidence-informed policy solutions for central government, regional government and the health service which, if implemented, could improve the current situation for women’s health.

Hannah Davies, Executive Director at Health Equity North, said: “Our report provides damning evidence of how women in the North are being failed across the whole span of their lives. Over the last 10 years, women in the North have been falling behind their counterparts in the rest of country, both in terms of the wider determinants of health and, consequently, inequalities in their health.

“There is a lot of work that needs to be done to turn the tide on the years of damage detailed in this report. But the situation for women’s health in the North can be changed for the better through evidence-based policy interventions.

“We need to see policymakers build on the ambitions outlined in the Women’s Health Strategy for England with focused effort to understand and address the regional inequalities in the many different facets of women’s health.”

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: “From leaving school to the boardroom, at home and at work, women and girls across the North bear the brunt of failings in our economy, society and public services. The lack of equality and opportunity that remains ingrained in modern Britain is unacceptable.

“As Mayor I’m determined to make the North East the home of real opportunity – and that means breaking down barriers which hold women and girls back. I will drive wholesale reform of the support we provide in schools, in our skills system, in childcare and in industries where too often women are shut out or overlooked. I welcome this report as a roadmap to a fairer, more equal North of England.”

You can read more about the findings andrecommendations by downloading the Woman of the North report on the HealthEquity North website.

Northumbria University is dedicated to reducing health and social inequalities, contributing to the regional and national workforce and improving social, economic and health outcomes for the most marginalised in society. Through its new Centre for Health and Social Equity (CHASE), researchers will be delivering world-leading health and social equity research and creating innovative, evidence-based policies and data-driven solutions to bring impactful change across the region, the UK and globally.