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GOVERNMENT EQUALITIES OFFICE

The routes to power of ethnic minority women

Ethnic minority women are under-represented in positions of power and senior decision-making authority. This is true across the public, private and voluntary sectors, as well as in politics. The specific reasons for this under-representation are not well understood beyond generalisations about all women or all people from ethnic minority backgrounds. Importantly, the experiences and insights of those ethnic minority women who have managed to negotiate their way to the top are rarely heard.

ETHNOS was commissioned to provide a better understanding of the reasons why ethnic minority women are under-represented in positions of power, by exploring the experiences of ethnic minority women who have succeeded in making their way to the top. We interviewed some of the most senior ethnic minority women in Britain and explored in depth with them: the motivations behind their achievements; the educational and professional trajectories they followed; the barriers and challenges they met along the way; the strategies they employed to overcome and handle these; the added value they bring to organisations; and their suggestions on how to support more ethnic minority women into senior decision-making roles.

Full research report

GOVERNMENT EQUALITIES OFFICE

Increasing the representation of ethnic minority women in local councils

ETHNOS conducted focus groups with ethnic minority women councilors from different ethnic minority communities (Black Caribbean, Brazilian, Indian, Pakistani and Turkish), as well as different political parties (Conservative, Green, Labour, and Liberal Democrat) to provide detailed perspectives on the experiences of some current ethnic minority women councilors, with a view to providing targeted and tailored support for ethnic minority to become local councillors.

As a result, the Government Equalities Office launched a cross-party Taskforce to consider practical ways to increase awareness through outreach activities; build confidence and skills; encourage more BAME women to step forward to become local councillors; improve the culture of political parties; and reduce disadvantage and stereotyping from within and outside the Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. The Taskforce brings together a range of partners: Local Government Association, local authorities, I&DEA, Equality and Human Rights Commission, Trade Union Congress, Fawcett Society, Operation Black Vote, Electoral Reform Society and the Women’s National Commission.

LONDON BOROUGH OF NEWHAM

Understanding decision-making in Newham's diverse communities

The London Borough of Newham wished to understand how people from diverse communities within the Borough make key decisions in their lives, whose advice they seek and who influences them. Through focus groups and individual interviews with people from a range of minority ethnic backgrounds, ETHNOS identified the main considerations and sources of influence shaping decision-making in relation to such issues as selecting schools, finding employment, choosing health services, selecting places to live, assessing environmental issues, and managing criminal incidents. The research also identified local people's concerns with their areas, their views about the Mayor and the Council, as well as their local networks and levels and types of social capital.

LONDON BOROUGH OF NEWHAM

Engagement with the Olympics

The London Borough of Newham commissioned ETHNOS to identify the reasons why people either engage or not with the opportunities opening up by the Olympics in Newham.

The qualitative research combined 23 focus groups and 12 family interviews with a carefully selected sample of Newham’s diverse population. These
included Muslims from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Somalia, and Nigeria.

The study explored what Newham residents think about living in Newham and their perceptions of the expected legacy of the Olympics, in relation to such issues as the economy, housing, health, the environment, community cohesion, and arts and culture. It also explored people’s awareness and perceptions of various initiatives set up by the Council to help local residents access opportunities, and the additional support required to enable them to access opportunities.

Full research report

GREATER LONDON AUTHORITY

Equality Impact Assessment on the London Housing Strategy

Housing in London is a critical issue. The London Housing Board tasked the Greater London Authority with carrying out an Equality Impact Assessment on the draft London Housing Strategy – the document which sets out the future of housing for the whole of London for the next decade. Because of the importance of housing and of the number of people it affects, it was crucial to get things right. So the GLA commissioned ETHNOS to find out about the anticipated impact of the Strategy on the following target equality groups: people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, Gypsies and Travellers, asylum seekers and refugees, people from different faith groups, disabled people, women, children and young people, older people, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) people.

We combined a tailor-made EQIA questionnaire and focus groups with experts on both housing and the specific communities targeted. The results from the EQIA have fundamentally shaped the future of housing in London.