One year on: Women are less likely than men to feel the Government’s response to Covid-19 has met their needs

Read the latest briefing by  six women’s organisations: Close the Gap, Engender, Fawcett Society, Northern Ireland Women’s Budget Group,  Women’s Budget Group, and Women’s Equality Network Wales

One year into the coronavirus pandemic, we asked respondents across the UK to reflect on
how their lives have changed and whether the Government’s response has met their needs.
Across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, we find that many women do not
believe their needs have been met by the UK or devolved Governments’ responses to the
coronavirus pandemic – and that such feeling is even more widespread among women who
already were experiencing disadvantage and discrimination.

• Less than four in ten women (38%), compared with half of men (50%), believe that
with regard to its coronavirus response, the UK Government is focusing on issues
that matter most to them
o The rate is lowest among young women (32%), women on low household
incomes (32%), Disabled women (32%) and single women (25%)
• Fewer women (43%) agree that the UK Government is acting in their best interest
compared to 50% of men
o Young women (31%), Disabled women (32%) and single women (25%) are
least likely to agree.
• Only three in ten (29%) women and 35% of men agree that women’s specific needs
have been considered and responded to well by the UK Government.