by Aly Sizer
This week ITV viewers have been catching up with a group of people who represent half a century of social change in England – the cast of the ‘Up’ Documentary series, which has followed these 14 people since 1964.
Society
Are we achieving gender equality? Can we do more?
by Emma Jeanes
Gender equality is firmly back on the public agenda. Unless you’ve switched off the television and radio, disconnected from social media and abandoned the printed press you can’t fail to notice that gender equality and related topics of sexual harassment, that disproportionately affects women, are regular topics of conversation. Social media has played a crucial role in spreading the word, with many campaigns such as #MeToo and #HeForShe drawing attention to gender inequality, and coalescing support to tackle it. This is all fantastic news and a step in the right direction. What is also heartening is the role men are playing in this as women cannot address gender inequality on their own. Continue reading
Balance for Better: improving outcomes in research and innovation
by Jennifer Rubin
BalanceforBetter is the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day and helpfully articulates the need to pursue balance if we want to improve diversity and inclusiveness in the environments in which we live and work. In our research and innovation environment there are several ways we can improve balance and improve outcomes. Continue reading
Are modern social issues old news? Single parents, the ageing population and the Victorian family
by Kevin Schürer
The modern family has its struggles. Single-parent families are often at the forefront of Government debates about welfare and employment. The elderly population is growing, and more and more people live alone in their later years. People marry later and have children later – who in turn are leaving home later and later.
At first glance, our complicated modern family structure might seem to be just that – modern. However, a look at the data shows that family has never been simple. Continue reading
How to live to 100 and tell people about it!
by Teresa McGowan
We are all living longer; since 1850, we’ve gained around 2.5 years of life expectancy per decade and it’s estimated that one in three children born today will live to be 100 years old. In Europe there is one retiree for every four people of working age, by 2060 this is expected to rise to one in two.
In our exhibition, ‘How to get to 100 – and enjoy it’, we ask people to explore how our early years, lifestyle, work and where we live can affect our lifespan. Continue reading
