1975 Sex Discrimination Act Flashcards
(11 cards)
What was the purpose of the 1975 Sex Discrimination Act (SDA)?
To end discrimination based on gender or marital status and ensure equality in employment and education.
What forms of discrimination did the SDA aim to outlaw?
Gender-based discrimination and harassment in employment and education.
What body was created by the SDA to enforce it?
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC).
What powers did the Equal Opportunities Commission have?
It could bring court proceedings against parties not complying with the SDA or Equal Pay Act.
How effective was the EOC between 1976–1983?
It launched only 9 investigations, and only 10% of sex discrimination claims in the workplace were successful.
What financial progress did women make in the 1970s?
In 1971, women could take out mortgages without male guarantors.
When did the Equal Pay Act come into force?
1975, alongside other supporting legislation.
How did Barbara Castle improve pension rights for women?
Through the Social Security Pensions Act, she reformed the State Earnings Related Pension Scheme to be more generous to women with caring responsibilities.
What did the Employment Protection Act 1975 introduce?
Paid maternity leave and protections against dismissal due to pregnancy.
What were some shortcomings of the SDA and related reforms?
Trade unions remained male-dominated. Employers exploited loopholes in the Equal Pay Act by assigning slightly different tasks. TUC didn’t issue a women’s equality charter until 1979.
How did women’s wages compare to men’s by 1977?
Women’s wages rose from 59% of men’s wages in 1970 to 70% in 1977.
