Letter: Cuts hit women

Ailsa McKay's article highlighting the impact of debt reduction on women (Comment, 20 October) is a surprising change from the ongoing focus on how the global recession is affecting male-driven industries.

Gender divisions within the employment sector have always been an issue, with women continually overlooked in regard to payment gaps as well as career prospects, so it is no real shock that the current economic problem is being branded a "mancession".

McKay's figures indicating the huge effect cuts will have on public sector jobs further reinforce the undervalued role women have within society.

Claiming the recession is a male problem is offensive towards the hard working women who make up the bulk of the public sector and the majority of service users; they have an enormous impact on the economic situation within society so why has it taken this long for information on how drastic the cuts will be for women to surface?

It is refreshing to see such a prominent article bringing attention to the lack of help and information about female work in the labour market, which will effectively become the hardest hit by these cutbacks.

Greater action is needed by the government to tackle the effect these cuts will have on households and female workers. McKay's outline of the situation makes it clear the effect will be damaging throughout society if the consequences of cutbacks on females and families are not significantly addressed.

Melissa Henderson

Barrington Drive

Glasgow