International Women’s Day: celebrating women in adult social care

8 March marks International Women’s Day, a globally recognised celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women across the world. It is a day to reflect on progress, raise awareness about gender equality, and advocate for a world free of bias and inequality. This year’s theme, 'Accelerate Action', encourages people to challenge gender stereotypes and emphasises the importance of ‘swift and decisive’ actions to achieve gender equality.

In the UK, the campaign day provides an important opportunity to recognise the incredible contributions of women across various sectors, including adult social care, where the workforce is overwhelmingly female. According to the latest data from Skills for Care, 79% of the adult social care workforce in England is female, highlighting the vital role that women play in supporting and delivering care services to millions of vulnerable adults. Working across a wide range of roles, from frontline carers to registered managers, CEOs, digital transformation leads, managing directors, and more, women make up the majority of the workforce.

On International Women’s Day, it is crucial to recognise the importance of supporting a workforce that is largely female. Providing essential care services in challenging and emotionally demanding circumstances can be difficult, and the dedication and resilience of those working within the sector cannot be overlooked.

It must also be recognised that women’s contributions go beyond the delivery of day-to-day care but also play a crucial role in shaping policies, leading services, and driving innovation to improve the quality of care.

What about those receiving care?

International Women’s Day also offers an opportunity to reflect on the female service users within the adult social care sector. Women make up a significant proportion of those who access care services, particularly given the ageing population. According to Skills for Care’s latest report, 61% of people receiving social care are women.

We should take this as a reminder to reflect on the importance of designing care services that are equitable, accessible, and responsive to the specific needs of women, especially those in older age.

The need for gender equality in social care

Whilst women form the majority of the social care workforce, gender equality remains an ongoing challenge in many areas of the sector. Despite their high representation, women in adult social care often face challenges such as low pay, more limited career

progression opportunities, and high levels of stress and burnout. The average hourly pay for women in the adult social care sector is lower than that of their male counterparts, and there are significant gender disparities in terms of senior leadership roles, with fewer women in higher-paying managerial and executive positions. A recent report from Trades Union Congress found that the current gender pay gap in the health and social care sector is 11.2%. International Women’s Day is a vital opportunity to highlight the challenges faced and advocate for change. We must recognise the contributions of women to the social care sector, and demand fair wages, equal opportunities for career development, and better working conditions.

Check out the official International Women’s Day website for ideas and resources on how to get involved: https://www.internationalwomensday.com/