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<DIV><FONT size=2><FONT size=3><STRONG>A Women’s Agenda in a time of sleaze and
recession? June 2009 – Survey Results</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV class=contenttext>
<P>On 28th May 2009 Women in London distributed a survey via its web site and
mailing lists (primarily to women working or volunteering in women’s groups
around the UK) and asked questions similar to the ones we circulated prior to
the Elections in May 2008 to see whether women’s attitudes had changed in the
past 12 months.</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<P><STRONG>“ … will never ever vote Labour again, there is no socialist
alternative so will support the Greens … “</STRONG></P></BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>We also included the question we asked last year about what is the best
solution to funding for core women’s services as the situation does not seem to
have improved since this time last year - <A
href="http://womensgrid.freecharity.org.uk/?p=2641" modo="false"><FONT
color=#000000>http://womensgrid.freecharity.org.uk/?p=2641</FONT></A>.</P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<P><STRONG>“ … devolving funding apportionment to Local Area Agreements has
proven not workable. All too commonly Local Authorities do not have a gendered
understanding of the complexities of men’s violence against women and
children. Central government has a duty under CEDAW to ensure that all its
citizens’ lives are safe and secure and this includes women and children.
Central government must fund long-term funding and provide concise dates of
action rather than constantly issuing false promises which are meaningless. …
“</STRONG></P></BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>And because in the past twelve months we have entered a recession, lived with
the consequences of a banking crisis and are now learning more about the depths
of sleaze in the Parliamentary system, we included some additional questions
from last year. </P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<P><STRONG>“ … I am the mother and sole carer for two young children (10 and
5), I work 3 days a week (in the charity sector) so that I can “be there” for
my kids as they are growing up - I get child benefit, and child tax credits
which cover childcare costs while I work - I live in a 1 bedroom privately
rented flat and share a bed with my kids, I have no savings, I get no other
benefits or financial support - I do not take more than I need and know that I
will be better off financially when my kids are a bit older and I work full
time. This is not a “poor me” story - My life is great, and I am generally a
contented and optimistic person, and consider myself lucky and am glad to have
left a destructive relationship although I am financially much worse off. The
recent revelations however made me livid and feel so let down - and for the
first time quite bitter - not a feeling I am familiar with. I have also felt
rather depressed recently because of it: most of these people have never known
real hardship, and have and have had so many life chances and opportunities
and yet casually claim back more than I earn in a year. And all this when so
many are losing their homes and jobs. I will not lower myself to their level,
but at the moment I honestly feel like a mug for not being “on the take”. …
“</STRONG></P></BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>The survey closed at 10pm on 2nd June, and we are releasing the results we
have been able to compile in the intervening 24 hours, to coincide with the
Elections on 4th June 2009.</P>
<UL>
<LI>38% think funding of core services should be a national policy with
central funding
<LI>57% think there is only partly a "women's vote"
<LI>Violence Against Women is the most important issue in local elections
<LI>Environment is most important issue in European elections
<LI>84% think they will vote
<LI>More women intend to vote Green locally (up by 17% - Labour down 18%) and
in Europe
<LI>The majority of women have not been too badly impacted by the recession
and banking crisis
<LI>92% think the Parliamentary expenses need to change, but have not changed
their vote because of that
<LI>Most women thought a General Election should only happen after deselection
of MPS, reform of expenses and the voting system
<LI>Nearly half though that if women had been involved in decision making
positions the situation would not be as bad.</LI></UL>
<P><A
onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/downloadswomeninlondon./download/WomensAgenda2009SurveyResults.doc');"
href="http://www.womeninlondon.org.uk/download/WomensAgenda2009SurveyResults.doc"><FONT
color=#000000>You can download the full results as a word document by clicking
here.</FONT></A> </P></DIV></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>