Healthy ageing: Edit Bauer, MEP

Edit Bauer: "Women comprise no less than half of the population in any member state, and represent a huge potential for the labour market"

Women over 50 represent a vast untapped resource that can help Europe achieve its EU 2020 objectives, argues Edit Bauer MEP.

You can notice discrimination against women over 50 simply by turning on the TV. There are almost no elderly female newscasters on TV screens. Women over 50 face discrimination in the labour market based on gender and age. Moreover, women are considered old much earlier than men.

The unemployment rate is higher for women than men in 21 member states, while women's unemployment is more likely to be hidden as 'inactivity' if they are married or have children. This is a striking phenomena and lot has to be done if we want to meet the Europe 2020 strategy's goal of reaching 75 per cent employment.

Women comprise no less than half of the population in any member state, and represent a huge potential for the labour market. What's more, Europe has the highest proportion of older women in the world. Elderly women represent an enormous cultural, social and professional resource that must not be neglected.

The significant unemployment rate of women means a huge challenge towards sustainable pensions. If we take into consideration the fact that the baby boom generation is soon leaving the labour market, we face a deteriorating situation that has enormous influence on Europe's economic situation.

Another issue that has to be addressed is the gender pay gap of elderly women. This pay gap is much deeper than in any other age group. This is mainly due to the fact that women are often forced to interrupt their careers.

These so-called 'inactive periods' accumulate and have a significantly negative impact on pensions. Women being penalised simply because of motherhood or family member care must be prevented. The commission and member states need to take these factors into account while preparing pension reform.

Furthermore, in the case of elderly women, an additional cause of early retirement is health status. Health policies should take into account the specific diseases of women. Most of these diseases are preventable if recognised in time, and measures should be made to draw the attention of women to regular cancer-screening and prevention. Member states should ensure these tests to be accessible for all and available all the time.

Read more (EN)

By Edit Bauer, MEP - 14th October 2011
 

This article was originally published in Issue 335 of The Parliament Magazine on 10 October 2011, p. 32.

See also:

• A Hidden Generation - The Parliament Magazine (EN)
• European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations - the Slovak government web site (SK)