Judy Murray and other leading women in sport, business and politics have called for urgent action to tackle discrimination during the pandemic.
The tennis coach and Sunday Post columnist is among more than 50 signatories of a letter calling on the UK Government to halt increasing gender inequality as Britain eases of out lockdown.
Other leading figures who have signed the letter include Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, Gabby Logan and Cherie Blair. Women’s team sports, which stopped in March, remain on hold, while the men’s football Premier League is already under way behind closed doors.
Ms Murray said: “With women’s netball, football and rugby all having their seasons cancelled, and cricket and hockey indefinitely postponed, we face six months with no women’s team sport having been played. Disabled women athletes are being set back most of all.”
Meanwhile, research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies showed mothers are nearly 50% more likely than fathers to have lost or quit their job. And, according to a TUC survey, 25% of pregnant women have faced discrimination at work during the pandemic.
Ms Murray, mother of tennis stars Andy and Jamie, said: “Across society we are seeing women of all age groups and sectors affected disproportionately by Covid-19.
“We must express concern that the long-term impact on women is being overlooked.”
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