Case Study: Occupational Segregation - Wakefield Metropolitan District Council

This project has evolved from the annual ‘Take Our Daughters to Work’ initiative run by Wakefield MDC every year. It has also been informed through a partnership with Sheffield Hallam University looking at the challenges for women in the workplace. The project highlight issues around job segregation which the Council wanted to tackle in an innovative way.

The Council works with Year 10 pupils at 3 local High Schools and offers non traditional work placements for girls and boys. Girls are encouraged to take up opportunities in trade sectors, planning, highways and environment. Boys get the opportunity to try out work in predominantly female environments such as childcare, caring, administration and libraries.

The project is introduced to the young people by hosting a ‘What’s my Line’ panel game to test their perceptions and flexible thinking around the kinds of jobs that people do. The Council works closely with the placement service co-ordinators to ensure that they also maximise the opportunity of being involved. Time is set aside to ensure that there is shared learning between the students and across the placement services on the experiences provided.

The event is supported by the Council’s Chief Executive and senior management team who are each cross-shadowed by a young female/male for a day.

The Council continues to work with schools and is now looking at improving the alignment with the school year timetable for 2007/08.

Contact point

Celia Sweeney