Women are bearing the brunt of caring, finds local charity's study
SURVEY by local disabled people's
charity Revitalise reveals that women feel unfairly pressured into a caring
role. A new study by the charity Revitalise has highlighted the pressure
felt by women to assume caring roles ahead of men.
Revitalise runs the Sandpipers centre in Southport, providing respite holidays
for disabled people and carers from the North West region and beyond.
While acknowledging that 42% of the UK's 6.5 million unpaid carers are men, the
charity's study has revealed a perception among female carers that they are
victims of a gender bias which may be unfairly forcing them into caring roles.
The survey found that twice as many women as men thought the gender of a person
was a factor in their becoming a carer (34% vs 17%). When quizzed further, 78%
of the female respondents agreed that women feel more pressured into the role of
carer on account of their gender. However, this contention was shared by 53% of
the men. 89% female carers felt there was an expectation in families and society
that women take on the role of carer, to which 84% non carers also agreed.
Significantly, 37% non-carers thought men tried to evade the responsibility of
providing care. But when it came to the question of men's caring capabilities,
78% and 91% of men were in unanimous agreement that men were just as good at
caring as women; an opinion also shared by 83% non-carers.
Women's feelings of injustice extended to the workplace too; 84% of female
carers felt there was a greater expectation that women should abandon their
careers to become carers.
The Revitalise survey also painted a stark picture of the plight of the UK's
unpaid carers, both male and female. 48% of the carers who responded to the
survey; 83% of whom were 50 or over; said they provided 24/7 care for a loved
one, yet 34% said they had never had any significant time away since they
started caring.
The impact on the emotional and physical wellbeing of carers was also clearly
highlighted:- 60% said they put the health of their loved 1 ahead of their own.
32% admitted that they sometimes felt depressed and/or resentful at being a
carer and that sometimes they lost patience or got angry at the person they
cared for (34%).
There are over 750 million carers in the North West, with over 280,000 in
Greater Manchester and over 165,000 in Merseyside. In the UK, around 1 person
in 8 is in some kind of caring role.
Revitalise is holding up its study as evidence that much more needs to be done
to support unpaid family carers; especially in terms of regular respite from
caring; and also that the perceived issue of gender bias within caring needs to
be addressed.
Revitalise Chief Executive Chris Simmonds commented:- "On the surface this
might make quite depressing reading, but it's important to acknowledge that many
people don't regard caring for loved one as a burden or a chore. In our survey,
6 out of 10 carers said they were happy to be carers because they felt it was
their duty.
But the fact remains that most carers are under incredible pressure and get very
little support. Revitalise has been providing respite support for disabled
people and carers from the North West and across the UK for over 50 years, so we
know a thing or two about the importance of regular time off from caring, as
well as the devastating impact that a lack of regular respite can have.
We think our research has opened the door on an issue that deserves urgent
attention. If women are bearing the brunt of the duty of care, if they feel
unfairly pressured into giving up their careers, hopes and plans solely because
of their gender, then we think that is quite wrong.
We've always believed that disabled people should have the same rights and
freedoms as non disabled people and exactly the same principle should apply to
all carers too."
Revitalise is a national charity providing respite holidays for disabled people
and carers at Sandpipers and 2 other accessible centres in Chigwell and
Southampton, with 24 hour nursing care on call, personal support and a range of
accessible excursions, activities and entertainment.
People wanting more information about Revitalise respite holidays are requested
to call:- 0303 303 0145 or visit:-
Revitalise.Org.UK.
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