Fawcett Society on R4 this morning re effects of budget on women.

I think this what I half heard on Weds that made me disgruntled. Was only listening with half an ear due to supervising the monkey house that is breakfast time, but there did seem to be a lot about how dual income households shouldn't be the norm and that it didn't make sense to subsidise childcare so that mothers (not parents) could work, and that maybe mothers (again not parents) should be 'supported' to stay at home with their children.

"Admittedly more women are employed in the public sector at the moment but there's an argument that women could be kept on because they're cheaper to employ than men"

And you are just fine with that?

"If you're struggling to pay a mortgage then you have an asset & also the choice of downsizing somewhere cheaper"

House prices are collapsing and people cannot sell their houses at the moment. THe elusive 'confidence' has gone. This is not a reasonable argument for a solution for women.

Just listening to the debate - the Tory MP has no clue - what their policies do is limit women's choice across many domains.

Sorry, I lost interest when whinging woman explained that she was whinging about a policy that hasn't actually been announced yet, she was assuming that blah, blah, blah
Also, why did she presume that women would be doing the Big Society caring: she should be campaigning to make sure that men are expected to do it too.

As a matter of interest, have you heard today about the change to pensions. I'm guessing that it will predominantly affect men. Have you heard any "men's groups" complaining about it?

Being sacked or made redundant is not something exclusive to women. Admittedly more women are employed in the public sector at the moment but there's an argument that women could be kept on because they're cheaper to employ than men. If you're struggling to pay a mortgage then you have an asset & also the choice of downsizing somewhere cheaper. If you're fit for work, surely that's a good thing to know? And volunteering isn't compulsory....

Women still have a lot more choices than they had in the past. But no-one, unless they are independently wealthy with no family ties, has the luxury of true choice. We all have to make responsible decisions based on our circumstances and do the best we can with the hand we are dealt.