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epigram 28.02.2023
COP27 in review: 'If we don't, who will?'
Girls just wanna have fun... but can they afford it?
Second Year English
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oving away from home, starting university and securing an entry-level job with a low annual salary can place young people in a financially vulnerable position, at risk of feeling the full brunt of the cost-of-living crisis. New research carried out by the Young Women’s Trust revealed that 52 per cent of young women are ‘filled with dread’ when they think about their household finances, with women already taking home up to a fifth less than men due to gendered pay gaps. Given the existing income inequalities, young women are especially vulnerable to the impact of rising fuel, rent and essential household costs. This inequity is partly due to gendered barriers in the workplace. As part of research conducted by the House of Commons Library, 78 per cent of reporting employers concluded that the median hourly pay was higher for men than women in their organisation. They also noted that more women obtained parttime roles with a lower wage due
'[Y]oung women are also taking health risks and prioritising money over their safety in order to cope with living on a lower budget.' to unpaid childcare responsibilities. Further research by the Young Women’s Trust concluded that nearly half of young women in the South West feel that their future prospects have gotten worse over the last six months. Many employers don’t offer work schedules that fit the domestic demands and caring responsibilities placed on young women, making it difficult for many women to increase their working hours and raise their earnings. As a result, women often undertake precarious work such as agency roles. While these positions are flexible, they can be unreliable, underpaid, and often don’t financial-
ly support the added costs of childcare and the inflated cost of living. The high cost of the social culture surrounding university and many early careers can add further stress to these financial responsibilities. One female student at the University of Bristol stated: ‘it’s hard to justify
'Almost three quarters of women in abusive relationships had found that the cost-of-living crisis had made it harder for them to leave their partner.' spending the little money I earn on drinks and going out when balancing my part-time job with my de
en’s self-esteem and confidence. Students also added that ‘at university the pressure to meet new people and look your best is at an all-time high’. With less money to keep up with unattainable beauty standards, largely targeted at women, some young women attested to socialising less due to lessened confidence. Further studies have shown that young women are also taking health risks and prioritizing money over their safety in order to cope with living on a lower budget, including skipping meals in efforts to make their cash last till the end of the month. One second year law student told Epigram of the unsafe situations she now faces due to her worsened financial position: ‘I already feel unsafe walking alone as a woman at night,
Annika Gordon / Unsplash
With women already taking home up to a fifth less than men due to existing income inequalities, young women are especially vulnerable to the rising cost of living. Blaise Cloran
gree is already tough’. Currently, the government’s financial response to the cost-of-living crisis includes a 9.7 per cent increase in the national living wage for over 23s to £10.42. However, this rate does not apply to those under the age of 23. The government is also yet to offer financial support for childcare costs, providing little aid to young women who are struggling to afford vital services such as nurseries. Female students at the University of Bristol have also voiced that ‘sanitary products, cosmetics and many
Many employers don't offer work schedules that fit the domestic demands and responsibilities placed on young women toiletry products typically tailored to women have increased in price and therefore have become an added expense that women need to budget for’. While a lack of access to cosmetic products may be seen as trivial, no longer being able to afford the commodities that make you feel good can have a significant impact on wom-
and knowing I can’t really afford to call a taxi if I needed to is really scary’. Young women are also finding themselves increasingly dependent on others for financial support, making them more vulnerable to financial abuse in situations of domestic violence and lengthening the duration of unhealthy and abusive relationships. Research conducted by Women’s Aid with survivors of domestic abuse discovered that almost three quarters of women in abusive relationships had found that the costof-living crisis had either prevented them from leaving or made it harder for them to leave their partner. The Young Women’s Trust is campaigning to get young women’s voices heard. Having asked young women what support the government should introduce, the organisation is calling for guaranteed affordable childcare that enables young women to work the hours they need, and an extension of the national living wage to those under the age of 23. By targeting the government and employers, young women stand a chance of lowering discrimination in the workplace and battling the impact of the cost of living crisis.
storm related flooding is of major concern, with many locations having The Sustainability limited financial and infrastructural Network sought firstadaptation capacity, posing a serihand insight from ous risk to human lives. Concerns reEgyptian UoB students garding climate change refugees and regional migration motivated by cliabout the significance matic and economic variables were of the climate change also highlighted in these discussions. focused conference the extreme risks faced being hosted in Egypt. byDespite many communities, many of the Bristol SU Sustainability students believe that climate change Network has not been a focus for the Egyptian limate change is one of government in recent years. They exthe most important issues plained that this could be a result of the world is currently fac- conflicting priorities, such as uneming – its wide ranging consequenc- ployment and poverty, as well as limes are already being felt at both a ited financial capacity or political will. The students also expressed global and local level, making it a current and time sensitive issue. It is concern that political instability also a complex, intersectional mat- and corruption were hampering ter, coinciding with issues of race, climate change action, a concern class, and gender inequality. Yet it of many LEDCs. These worries are is often viewed as a future concern. especially pertinent given the asWith the hosting of COP27 in sociation between climate change Egypt this year, the Sustainabili- and social disparities, with the ty Network sought first-hand in- most vulnerable likely to feel the sight from Egyptian UoB students impacts of climate change first. Some suggested that there are ofabout the implications of the climate change focused conference ten financial incentives behind govbeing hosted in their country. ernment investment decisions, with Speaking to the Sustainability Net- money often being invested into work, all students shared that they projects that would see immediate or their families have been directly returns. However, others noted that affected by the impacts of climate progress has been made over recent years, including change in Egypt, with extreme 'All students shared that investment into enweather events they or their families have sustainable ergy sources and becoming more been directly affected by biodiversity profrequent, severe climate change in Egypt' tection programs. and widespread. The students Unlike other countries in the region, which have were proud that the hosting of the financial capacity for adaptation COP27 in Egypt was bringing the measures such as the widespread de- MENA region to the global stage, in velopment of ubiquitous air condi- what are typically Eurocentric discustioning, Egypt has less financial and sions. However, there were concerns infrastructural resilience to combat about the efficacy of previous COP increasing temperatures. Water sup- conferences. Many highlighted that ply has also become a major concern the event tends to lead to little meandue to changing rainfall patterns in ingful impact, with previous conferwhat is already an arid country. This ence goals not on track to be met. Some feared that the conference issue was linked to regional geopolitical issues, such as the contentious risked becoming only a political building of dams in nearby countries blame-game with few meaningful that alter water availability patterns. outcomes for businesses, the key The climate change risk to agri- polluters of the environment. Others culture as a livelihood, as well as for expressed worries surrounding the food availability, was also highlight- influence that COVID-19, the Rused by the students. Negative im- sia-Ukraine conflict and other sociopacts to agriculture could affect food economic current events may have exports such as citrus and grains, on successful climate change action. Generally, the students interthereby impacting global food supply chains. Should Egypt’s agricul- viewed encouraged action and ture be detrimentally impacted, the implementation over policies and increased dependency on imported legislation, with one student enfood would also impact local food couraging the community to hold security as prices would increase. governments accountable, pointThe threat of rising sea levels and ing out, ‘If we don’t, who will?’
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