Men must do their fair share in fight for equality… starting with the dusting

AND just like that, the restrictions that have ruled, ruined and protected our lives were declared over this week.

No more masks. No more isolation. No more not seeing our families for weeks on end. No more mandatory working from home.

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The pandemic has been difficult for everyone. Some have lost family and friends, others their businesses and jobs.

Many more have struggled with mental health issues and the loneliness of ­isolation — the true extent of which we have yet to understand.

But I fear that Princess Anne hit the nail on the head when she said, very ­worryingly, that the pandemic may have caused a “backwards slide” for women in the workplace.

At an awards ceremony ­celebrating the achievements of those working in core science, technology, ­engineering and maths (STEM) roles, the Princess Royal said the proportion of women working in those areas, although gradually improving, remains too low at only 24 per cent.

I agree that the figure should be much higher.

I also agree with her that a doubling of efforts to highlight the work of these women is essential, especially in the wake of the pandemic.

As Princess Anne pointed out: “Such upheavals can lead to a backwards slide, with organisations focused on keeping their businesses afloat rather than the equally important but perhaps less pressing work of maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce.”

In other words, while everyone is focused on merely keeping the boat afloat, issues such as equality in the workplace have fallen by the wayside.

And I think that, sadly, Princess Anne is right.

Pre-pandemic, the gender pay gap was closing. But still for every £1 a man made, a woman made 86p — and that was going to take 100 years to close.

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If anything, the gap is likely to grow.

According to a report by management consulting firm McKinsey, women’s jobs are 1.8 times more at risk than men’s.

The reason for this is the unequal ­division of domestic labour — i.e. it still mainly falls to women.

Women do an average of 75 per cent of the world’s total unpaid care work, including childcare, caring for the elderly, cooking and cleaning.

This was made more extreme by the pandemic, which disproportionately increased the time women spent on ­family responsibilities.

According to this report, women have dropped out of the workforce at a higher rate than explained by labour market dynamics alone.

Over the various lockdowns the periods of home-schooling fell overwhelmingly to women, as did much of the cooking and cleaning.

This was a massive backwards step in the division of domestic labour and also meant that women missed more work.

As a result they were looked over for promotions and were more likely to be made redundant or give up their jobs.

In the meantime, more women than men are seeking flexible work to ­accommodate domestic responsibilities.

I know better than most that it IS ­possible to bring up a family and have a career — you just need to be flexible.

Pre-pandemic, these issues came to the fore and many organisations were focused on equality in the workplace.

But ­unfortunately, I fear that Princess Anne is correct about this recent backwards slide.

Obviously the big question is: What can we all do about this?

As a female employee, proving you can get the job done — that you can do the work without compromising your salary and status — is the best argument in favour of flexible working.

Bear in mind that companies are only as good as the people who work there — so if you are good, your company will work with you.

But men also have a part — perhaps the most important one — to play in this.

To any men reading this, when it comes to domestic labour you need to do a 50 per cent share.

So pick up a feather duster and get to it. That’s only fair, isn’t it?

Kanye tell difference?

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LOOKING at photos of Kanye West’s new love interest Chaney Jones on a beach in Miami last week, I couldn’t help but be struck by her uncanny resemblance to his estranged wife Kim Kardashian.

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In fact, in her thong swimsuit and neon-tint sunglasses you’d be hard pressed to tell Chaney apart from Kim.

 She looks amazing. Still, I think it’s safe to say that this man has a type.

So well said, Liz

YOU’VE got to admire Foreign Secretary Liz Truss for her chutzpah.

She berated Moscow’s ambassador to the UK, telling him the invasion of Ukraine has made Russia an “international pariah”, and she accused the country that he represents of having “repeatedly lied”.

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Ms Truss allegedly showed Andrei Kelin the door at what was characterised by a Foreign Office source as a “very grumpy meeting”, as Kelin repeated Vladimir Putin’s lies.

 The source said: “Liz kicked him out after he started spouting the Kremlin’s incredulous propaganda lines.”

 All I can say is, good on you Liz. I so like this woman.

STILLER A SPARK AFTER ALL THESE YEARS

INTERESTING to hear that actors Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor, pictured, are back together after the US pair separated almost five years ago.

Ben, who is now 56, revealed in a recent interview that he and Christine, 50, patched things up during the pandemic.

 He said they moved back in together so he could see their two children during the lockdown, and then decided that life was better together.

 It all sounds very romantic – and it’s enough to make you wonder if all long-term midlife marriages could benefit from a bit of a break.

Uni not a must for all

UNDER new government proposals, pupils who fail GCSEs in maths or English will be banned from taking student loans.

 I know it’s controversial.

 Many believe this will exclude people who may have considered university as an automatic rite of passage.

 I agree the policy will have exactly that effect.

 It’s just that I really do not view this as a bad thing.

 In fact, I see it as a positive. 

To anyone worried about their future in the face of this news, please allow me to remind you of the merit of apprenticeships and traineeships.

 There are so many brilliant ones on offer out there and it’s a real opportunity to earn and learn at the same time.

 At the end of an apprenticeship, you are qualified AND work- ready.

 When I left school I could not wait to start working, to be in charge of my own life and earn my own money – which meant instant independence.

 I can honestly say I have not for a moment regretted taking that path, and nor do I feel that it has ever counted against me.

 So, if university is not on the cards for your future, please take heart.

WHAT PROGRESS?

TALKING of not enough women in the workplace, I was staggered by this photo taken on the sidelines of the Munich ­Security Conference, which was doing the rounds on Twitter last week.

 At the CEOs’ business dinner, there were dozens of men at the table – and not one woman. What a depressing sight.

 It brought back memories of the same conference that occurred in 1938, 84 years ago. No women attended then . . . and no women attend now.

 And you wonder why we are in such a state. 

Progress? What progress?

Stand up to Putin

I CAN’T conceive of what it must have felt like to be woken up in the middle of the night in Kyiv to the sound of sirens – the echo of war right on the doorstep.

 But the fear, anxiety and anger at it all must be intense, and heart- breaking scenes of death and destruction in this day and age are imaginable for all of us. 

What on earth do Russian citizens think of their thug president bombing a peaceful country in an unjustified and unprovoked attack? 

While protests are rare in Putin’s dictatorial Russia, anti-war campaigners have been demonstrating in more than 40 cities across the country – including Moscow and St Petersburg.

Let’s hope they have more of an impact than the sanctions seem to be having.