Wellbeing, Women, Work and Policy Making: BWB Texts 73

Wellbeing is a complex and multifaceted concept that encompasses a person's physical, mental, and social health. It is a state of being that allows individuals to live full and satisfying lives, and it is essential for both personal and societal well-being.

Still Counting: Wellbeing, Women's Work and Policy-making (BWB Texts Book 73)

by Marilyn Waring

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	668 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Lending	:	Enabled
Print length	:	112 pages

FREE

Women face a number of unique challenges in the workplace that can impact their wellbeing. These challenges include:

• Gender discrimination: Women are often paid less than men for the same work, and they are less likely to be promoted to leadership positions. This can lead to feelings of frustration, anger, and resentment, which can take a toll on women's mental health.
• Sexual harassment: Sexual harassment is a common problem in the workplace, and it can have a devastating impact on women's physical and mental health. Women who are sexually harassed may experience anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Work-family conflict: Women are often responsible for the majority of childcare and housework, which can make it difficult to balance their work and family lives. This can lead to feelings of stress, guilt, and exhaustion.

These challenges can have a significant impact on women's wellbeing. Women who experience gender discrimination, sexual harassment, or work-family conflict are more likely to experience mental health problems, physical health problems, and chronic stress. They are also more likely to be absent from work and to have lower job satisfaction.

Policy makers can play a vital role in promoting women's wellbeing in the workplace. By creating policies that address gender discrimination, sexual harassment, and work-family conflict, policy makers can help to create a more equitable and supportive work environment for women.

Here are some specific policy recommendations that can help to promote women's wellbeing in the workplace:

• Increase the minimum wage: Raising the minimum wage would benefit women disproportionately, as women are more likely to work in low-wage jobs. This would help to reduce poverty and economic insecurity among women, and it would also improve their overall wellbeing.
• Provide paid family leave: Paid family leave allows workers to take time off to care for a new child or a sick family member. This policy would help to reduce work-family conflict and improve women's mental and physical health.
• Strengthen anti-discrimination laws: Anti-discrimination laws protect workers from discrimination based on their sex, race, religion, and other characteristics. Strengthening these laws would help to create a more level playing field for women in the workplace.
• Provide training on sexual harassment: Sexual harassment training can help to raise awareness of this issue and to create a more respectful work environment. This training should be mandatory for all employees.
• Create flexible work arrangements: Flexible work arrangements allow workers to work from home, set their own hours, or share a job with another person. These arrangements can help to reduce work-family conflict and improve women's overall wellbeing.

By implementing these policy recommendations, policy makers can help to create a more equitable and supportive work environment for women. This will lead to improved wellbeing for women, their families, and society as a whole.

Wellbeing is essential for both personal and societal well-being. Women face a number of unique challenges in the workplace that can impact their wellbeing. Policy makers can play a vital role in promoting women's wellbeing by creating policies that address gender discrimination, sexual harassment, and work-family conflict.

The policy recommendations outlined in this article would help to create a more equitable and supportive work environment for women. This would lead to improved wellbeing for women, their families, and society as a whole.

It is time for policy makers to make women's wellbeing a priority. By investing in women, we are investing in our future.

References

1. World Health Organization. (2018). Wellbeing.
2. National Women's Law Center. (2017). Gender Discrimination.
3. National Sexual Violence Resource Center. (2018). Sexual Harassment in the Workplace.
4. Pew Research Center. (2018). The Gender Gap in Work and Family.

Still Counting: Wellbeing, Women's Work and Policy-making (BWB Texts Book 73)

by Marilyn Waring

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	668 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Lending	:	Enabled
Print length	:	112 pages

FREE