Cllr Vicky Wakefield-Jarrett and Cllr Amy Kennedy

Green City Cllrs Vicky Wakefield-Jarrett and Amy Kennedy have welcomed a report into corporate sexism by women’s campaigning group the Fawcett Society.
 
The report, ‘Corporate Sexism: the sex industry's infiltration of the modern workplace’ finds that the use of lap dancing clubs and displays of pornography in a work context undermine equality between women and men at work, and that the sex industry is increasingly targeting the corporate market.
 
Vicky said:
 “As the sex industry has expanded, it has become an increasingly normal part of mainstream culture and, consequently, workplace cultures.
 
“News that 41 per cent of UK lap dancing clubs are directly marketing to employers on their websites, and that many offer ‘discreet receipts’ so employees can claim back expenses without revealing the money’s gone on the sex industry is shocking.
 
“Ensuring everyone is treated equally and with respect in the workplace means putting an end to the use of lap dancing clubs and the like for corporate entertaining. Women can’t help but feel undermined when they know male colleagues are taking clients to lap dancing clubs.”
 
Amy Kennedy, whose bid earlier this year to see Brighton & Hove City Council sign up to the Fawcett Charter was rejected by the Tory administration’s Cabinet, added:
“This report hammers home the importance of continuing to fight for women’s equality, in the workplace and elsewhere.
 
“In light of these findings, I very much hope the Cabinet will reconsider their decision earlier this year not to sign up to the Fawcett Charter. While we already have numerous robust policies in place to ensure women employed by the council are treated with respect, signing up would send a clear message to businesses across the city that sexism in the work place is not acceptable.“

To read the report visit:
www.fawcettsociety.org.uk

For more information about the Greens view: www.brightonandhovegreenparty.org.uk