Nigel Farage again provoked controversy this week by claiming that women who take time off work to have children are “worth less” to City employers than men. The Ukip leader made the comments during a speech in the City, arguing that women are able to do as well – if not better – than men but only if they are prepared to sacrifice family life.
“I think the reality for women in the City is that if they have children it has a very detrimental effect on their future pay prospects.”
“In many, many cases, women make different choices in life to the ones that men make simply for biological reasons,” he said. “If a woman has a client base and has a child and takes two or three years off work, she is worth far less to the employer when she comes back than when she goes away because her client base cannot be stuck rigidly to her.
“I don’t believe that in the big banks and brokerage houses and Lloyds of London and everyone else in the City, I do not believe there is any discrimination against women at all. I think that young, able women who are prepared to sacrifice the family life and stick with their careers do as well, if not better, than men.”
Speaking on LBC Radio yesterday, Deborah Meaden, believes that it ‘will damage the female talent pool and discourage women to enter such professions’ Vanessa Vallely also agreed and gave the statement that ‘The City has such a wide berth of support for returning to work mothers and women in the city with many companies now offering support as well as the 800 female networks in the City providing support and resources. Every woman faces different challenges with maternity leave due to financial or domestic constraints and there comments damage the reputation or discourages women to work in certain arenas when they should be encouraging women’
Some believe that the statement is true and that women cannot take on broking or sales roles due to the impact of losing fostered relationships with their clients and therefore loss of revenue to their firms. Does this mean that women need to reduce their maternity leave to a bare minimum in order to maintain their careers? Is this just the view-point of the extreme right wing or is Mr Farage just echoing the thoughts and views of the City? And it is in fact a true statement of what it is actually occurring today?
Yes he is chauvinistic but actually I think he is just echoing what the majority of the company businesses are thinking. That doesnt make it right but it is not all Nigels fault
I believe that it is a true reflection of the city and brokerage firms. Having had 3 children now and giving up my career in Law to look after my 3 boys I found even when returning to work after my first son was born that the shift in opportunities had changed and was often questioned whether I would be looking to have further siblings to him. However this was 15 years ago and from what I can see there is improvements being made (speaking to my friends that is) but I dont feel a public figure should be conveying these views as they come across as socially acceptable. This will not help us in the future trying to gain positions. LOVE We Are the City by the way x
He is a worthless man and is so right wing and chauvinistic it is untrue. I do not believe he deserves such air time for him or his party.