EU Referendum: Women Stronger In

http://www.economist.com/news/britain/21673810-vote-will-be-close-britain-begins-its-campaign-stay-europeand-leave-it

In the UK, the decision to stay or leave the European Union will continue to dominate the headlines until the referendum on the 23 June 2016. The debate itself will invariably continue to be dominated by men. Men like David Cameron who wants us to stay in a reformed Europe, men in the business community who understand the economic catastrophe of leaving and men like Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage who in their love of the spotlight and misguided nostalgia for the empire want to isolate Britain from the economic, political and social innovation and progress we gain from the EU. I’m in favour of staying in. Can you tell?

My position aside, women are making strides to reclaim the debate about the EU: there is strong opposition to leaving the EU from many high profile women including the Women Stronger In campaign. From a glance at the women’s rights legislation the EU safeguards, it is obvious to see why. Women and men, throughout European history, have worked tirelessly to implement legislation across Europe that protects women in their daily lives. Some of the most significant examples include:

•       Equal pay for equal work: the EU has the policy of equal pay enshrined in EU law and EU law realises the problem of workplace harassment for women.
•       Maternity leave: without the EU women would not have the same rights to take time off both before and after the birth of their children. This would result in them having to quit their careers completely if they wanted to have children. Just in case women didn’t already face such a monumental choice between career and family.
•    Domestic violence protection: restraining orders taken out by victims of domestic violence now apply throughout Europe, protecting victims if they move around the continent.

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Beyond this European legislation, the EU as a political instrument allows us to sit at the table and work as one to confront international violations of women’s rights including child marriage, female genital mutilation and sexual violence in conflict. For example, the work of the European Women’s Lobby makes laudable progress in tackling gender inequality throughout Europe, we should be proud to sit alongside these women.

The economic consequences of leaving the EU would almost definitely affect the lives of women and girls disproportionately. If we think the government is currently burdening women with austerity, a break from Europe would result in an economic upheaval which no doubt would be increasingly burdened by society’s most vulnerable. Of course there are problems with the EU’s structure and ability to change things, but abandoning ship is not the answer, particularly for women. If we lose all these hard earned rights it seems unlikely that they will be replaced by the likes of Nigel Farage who has publically denounced working mothers in the past and who’s political history is riddled with prehistoric views on the status of women. The EU is, at it’s core a transnational feminist project; joining women, disseminating good practice, enshrining equality in law and creating the space for international feminist solidarity. Without it, I fear even more for the rights of women in the UK and those excluded from the privileges we receive.