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Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Women and Employment Survey: Changes in Women’s Employment 1980-2005

5 December 2005 at The Department of Trade and Industry, London

Sponsored by the Women and Equality Unit DTI and CRASSH, University of Cambridge

The Women and Employment Survey was commissioned by the Department of Employment and carried out in 1980 jointly by the Office for Population Censuses and Surveys and the Department of Employment. The last major survey covering women and employment had taken place in 1965.

The main aims of the survey were to establish what factors determine whether or not women are in paid work and to identify the degree to which domestic factors or more broadly the sexual division of labour shapes women's lifetime labour market involvement; and to collect full information about the work they do, their pay and conditions of employment, as well as the way they behave in the labour market when they leave jobs or look for work. The study also set out to determine the importance of work to women and their job priorities. An important and innovative feature of the survey was the collection of detailed work histories covering the whole of women's working lives since leaving full time education and detailed histories of other vital events such as the births of children which were likely to have consequences for women's labour market behaviour.

Aims and Objectives of the Conference
  • To conduct a historical evaluation of policy interventions in the family and work interface
  • To consider continuities and change in labour market inequalities including the interaction between gender, class and ethnicity
  • To evaluate data quality and methodological issues

The conference offers a unique opportunity for internationally recognised researchers and influential policy makers to meet and reflect on one of the most pressing social issues of our time: gender equality.

Organisers: Ceridwen Roberts (University of Oxford), Jean Martin (University of Oxford), Shirley Dex (Institute of Education) and Jackie Scott (University of Cambridge)


Revised Programme 7th November

Monday 5 December 2005
DTI Conference Centre, 1 Victoria Street, London, SW1 0ET
Conference Centre Map

9.30-10.15 Registration

10.15-12.15

First Plenary: 25 Years of studying Women and Employment

Introduction and Welcome
Ian Diamond Chief Executive Economic and Social Research Council

Putting Women on the Research Agenda: Why we did the Women and Employment survey
Ceridwen Roberts Conference Abstract Conference Presentation

Methodological innovations and key findings of the Women and Employment Survey
Jean Martin Conference Abstract Conference Presentation

Where are we now? Research and questions
Diane Houston

Chair: Jacqueline Scott

12.15-13.15 Lunch
13.15-14.15

Second Plenary: Women and Equality - Assessing Progress

Occupational Mobility Changes in the UK
Shirley Dex and Heather Joshi Conference Abstract Conference Presentation

UK Women's Employment in Comparative European Context
Jill Rubery Conference Abstract Conference Presentation

Chair: Miriam Glucksmann

14.15-15.30

Workshop Panels (Participants attend one)

Session A: Labour Market Inequalities

Evidence on Equality – Reviewing the Trends
Peter Elias and Kate Purcell Conference Abstract Conference Presentation

Occupations, Class & Work-Family Balance
Rosemary Crompton and Clare Lyonette Conference Abstract Conference Presentation

Labour Market Participation and Ethnic Minorities
Angela Dale Conference Abstract Conference Presentation

Chair: David Darton
Reporter: Linda McDowell

Session B: Work and Family

Working full-time after motherhood: taking a longer view
Susan McRae Conference Abstract Conference Presentation

Mothers & Work-Life Balance
Colette Fagan Conference Abstract Conference Presentation

Family Economy and Work Time
Sue Harkness Conference Abstract Conference Presentation

Chair: Jackie O'Reilly
Reporter: Jane Elliot

Session C: Data Quality Issues and Analytical Challenges

Analyzing Family and Employment Change
John Ermisch Conference Abstract Conference Presentation

Attitudinal Trends Across Two Decades: The Challenge of Interpreting Attitudinal Change
Jackie Scott Conference Abstract Conference Presentation

Using Survey Data to Measure Work Orientations
Michael Rose Conference Abstract Conference Presentation

Chair: Jean Martin
Reporter: Heather Laurie

15.30-16.00

Coffee
16.00-16.30

Feedback Session
Chair: Teresa Rees

16.30-17.00

Conference Address by Meg Munn MP, Minister for Women and Equality

17.00-18.00 Reception
 

Registration

All enquiries should be addressed to enquiries@genet.ac.uk.