Feb 2021
OSJCT Trustee Professor Manthorpe reflects on gender equality in the health and social care sector
International Women's Day - 8 March 2021
Professor of Social Work at King's College London; Director of the Department of Health’s Social Care Workforce Research Unit, Jill Manthorpe joined OJSCT in 2016 as a Trustee following her long-standing involvement in small and large charities that have generally supported older people. Being a Trustee combines many interests for Jill, who began her working life for the predecessor of Age UK and subsequently developed a career in health and social care research.
As a successful academic, mother of two and grandma of three, Jill has seen opportunities for women steadily evolve in the last forty years. She said: “International Women’s Day is a good reminder of how far things have changed for the better in terms of gender equality and a reminder that more that needs to change.”
Jill stayed at home with her children when they were young, along with most mothers at the time. She said: “Now many women juggle motherhood and full-time work. This has its advantages and disadvantages but generally there is less of a glass ceiling and people have more confidence in challenging discrimination and aspiring to senior leadership positions.”
Jill added: “Many women have worked successfully in the health and social care sector; they feel welcome here. However, I am still occasionally surprised to attend a conference or senior meeting and find that the panel or committee is exclusively male. Things are changing as the NHS, in particular, recognises the need to put greater emphasis on equality and inclusion, rather than waiting for it to happen. In other workplaces we also need to be aware of the glass cliff – the situation where women get leadership jobs but in very insecure organisations or roles.”
“It’s good to see that the health and social care sector also supports women with fair access to roles which have previously been seen as traditionally male disciplines such as finance and IT. Within OSJCT it’s great to see good representation of women at a senior level across different roles, making the most of women’s many talents.”
Jill welcomes the greater emphasis on working in groups of men and women, rather than teams focused on one overall leader. She suspects that working in groups offers more job satisfaction and shared success, a model that works well for both genders and allows for flexibility.
Another big change that Jill has seen during her career is more acceptance and flexibility of shared family responsibilities, this includes childcare but also care for parents and other relatives.
She observed: “Juggling family life and paid work creates pressures for men and women, but it is no longer assumed that it’s the woman’s sole obligation to take on caring duties, and companies are more open to discussing flexible working to support their employees, both men and women. This is good for employers and the workforce, creating more opportunities and satisfying work/life balances for all.”