Consultation finds 77 percent think community hasn't achieved gender equality

Findings based on online survey of 364 respondents released by new Jewish women's group at launch event this week

Seventy-seven percent of Jewish women say the community has not yet achieved gender equality, a new consultation has revealed.

Findings, based on an online survey of 364 respondents, were released by The Alliance of Jewish Women and their Organisations’ (AJWO) this week at a launch event held at Chai Cancer Care.

The ‘What Do Jewish Women Want 2020’ consultation revealed that half of Jewish women feel communal organisations don’t offer women the same opportunities as men, with 17 percent disagreeing.

Featuring 100 leading Jewish women at the event including Rachel Riley, top civil servant Tamara Finkelstein and ex Labour MP, Ruth Smeeth, the consultation seeks to help tackle the gender pay gap, end all-male panel discussions, and call for a louder voice for Jewish women on issues like climate change.

Laura Marks , co-chair of AJWO, said: “Jewish women are brave, competent and gamechangers. I’m galvanised by the mandate they have given us, to go out in the world, as Jewish women, to drive social change”.

Thank you so much to everyone who joined us for our PACKED OUT launch event last night! In particular, thank you to our wonderful panelists @RachelRileyRR, @RuthSmeeth & @TamFinkelstein, and host @ChaiCancerCare ???? pic.twitter.com/BtrtxX8BFw

— Alliance of Jewish Women (@AJWO_UK) March 4, 2020

Co-chair Judy Silkoff said “Particularly as an Orthodox Jewish woman, I’m very encouraged to see so many Orthodox women engaging in the discussion about really important equality issues, such as all male panels and better education for men and boys.”

Ruth Smeeth added that: “Women have always been the heart and soul of our community. The relaunch of AWJO provides a new forum for female leadership and support to make sure that our community is supporting the next generation and ensuring that our community has strong voices in the public debate.”