Improving the quality of childcare and parental leave would not only benefit to families, but also to the economy as a whole, according to broadcaster and businesswoman Sonya Lennon.
Ms Lennon said that she caters most of her homeware products towards woman, as “women are the prime drivers in the choices as to house, car, furnishings, all the rest”.
She told The Anton Savage Show that 80% to 90% of all consumer decisions are made by women, and that providing affordable childcare would free up a huge amount of their purchasing power.
“To give you an example, I went to Iceland with a cross-party group for workplace equity,” she said.
“We went to Iceland, the most equal country in the world, we met with members of industry, trade unions, women’s rights movements, Prime Minister, elected ministers; we asked them all the same question - ‘How is Iceland the most equal country in the world?’
“They all said the same three things, which was legislation for affordable, sustainable, quality childcare all paid for by the State [and] shared parental leave on a use-it-or-lose-it basis.”
New parents admiring new born baby boy. Image: Connect Images / Alamy. 6 October 2017Ms Lennon said the third thing they were told helps to improve equality is a marker for equitable businesses.
“That allows people to vote with their pockets," she said.
“If you think back to the 86% of all consumer decisions made by women, I think if we had that equality mark we would use it and we would choose it.”
According to Ms Lennon, the more men take parental leave, the more the gender pay gap will shrink as women will not be forced out of the workforce for longer periods of time.
Main image: Sonya Lennon.
