Nursery World - Opinion: In my view - Starting with mothers

The Government has set itself a target of eradicating child poverty by 2020. But they are 'keeping mum' about the fact that having a baby in the UK puts a woman in danger of losing her job, moving into low-paid work and getting into debt.

To end the cycle of disadvantage for mothers, the Fawcett Society is launching a new campaign calling on the Government to stop ignoring the links between women's inequality and children's poverty.

We think it's a national scandal that UK mothers are at greater risk of poverty than women in any other western European country.

From the moment they conceive a child, women face immediate financial penalties - thousands lose their jobs, and many more face disadvantage and reduced opportunities in the workplace. After having a child, many become trapped in part-time, low-paid and low-status work. They are more likely to be in insecure jobs as temps or homeworkers.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included