It ain't no picnic

The following feature was first published in Landworker magazine – you can read the latest edition here.

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Women already have it tough enough as it is – they’re more likely to have caring responsibilities, more likely to be un- or underemployed, and they’re also more likely to be affected by cuts to public services.

But in rural areas, their struggles are even further compounded. Landworker spoke to Unite’s Angela
Duerden, who represents women on the union’s Executive Council (EC). For nearly three decades, she’s served as a social worker – for many of these years she worked in the Durham Dales.

Angela reports that central to the issues facing women in rural areas is isolation and lack of infrastructure like public transport. 

“When I worked in the Dales, we struggled to get care packages that would enable people needing care to stay in their own homes.

“This is because care workers aren’t typically paid for travel time. Without viable public transport and being forced to travel long distances by car, care workers can’t afford to work in rural areas as they’ll be out of pocket if they do.”

In practice people needing care would have to go to care homes far from their families and communities.

“We know that women tend to be primary carers, so this has hit women the hardest,” she noted. “When I worked in the upper Dales, one of the two care homes in the area closed because of Tory underfunding. Families – again mostly women – had to travel miles and miles to see their loved ones. Even if they had their own car, this could take hours.”

Domestic violence is another issue predominantly affecting women that’s often much harder to tackle in rural areas. A study by the Rural Crime Network in 2019 found that in rural areas, domestic abuse lasts 25 per cent longer, and the more rural the area, the greater the risk of harm.

The study’s findings reflect what Angela saw as a social worker. She points to a number of complex challenges woven into the fabric of underinvested rural communities that make it that much more difficult for women to get help.

“For starters, there are much fewer services that women can turn to if they’re experiencing domestic abuse,” she said.

“GPs can often be a first point of contact, but so many rural areas lack GPs. What services are available are often staffed by local people, and because of the stigma surrounding domestic violence, women are reticent to get help. In such small communities, they don’t want word to get out.”

Getting support anonymously can often be a non-starter in rural areas – accessing services online is harder, because of poor internet connection. Public spaces, where confidential domestic violence services can advertise with display posters, are fewer and farther between.

Lack of affordable housing is also a barrier for domestic violence victims.

“Even when women are considering leaving an abusive situation, they’ve got nowhere to go,” Angela explained.

“There is a severe lack of housing in rural areas, where so many homes are being snapped up as holiday homes and locals can’t afford to move. Victims would have to move very far away to find an affordable home, uprooting children and moving away from friends, family and other support networks.”

Housing is only part of the affordability crisis facing rural areas, which again, disproportionately affects women.  Food is more expensive because people have to use local shops, which charge more than large supermarket chains. Online supermarket shopping is often not available in rural areas either.

“You’ve got a lot less choice, and you’re paying far more for it,” Angela explains. She adds that childcare is wildly unaffordable in rural areas too, where wages are generally low.

“Rural women just can’t win – they need higher paying jobs to afford childcare, which are few and far between. But to improve their job prospects, which will mean significant travel, they need both childcare and transport to begin with.”

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham with Unite EC member Angela Duerden

As complex as the challenges are, Angela believes that if government properly funds public services in rural areas then these challenges can be tackled head-on.

“Mobile drop-in services could play a big role in solving the multiple crises facing women in the countryside. It’s astounding to think that, where, for example I lived, there were mobile libraries, which are fantastic, and even a mobile fish and chip van, but no mobile drop-in services or advice clinics.”

One strength of rural areas is that they are often comprised of tight-knit communities where people band together and help each other. Angela gave the example of a toddler group organised by the community in her local village, which she called an “absolute lifeline” for many mothers in the area who might otherwise be left isolated.

“But as important as these community initiatives are, they’re no replacement for statutory services, which are desperately needed,” Angela added.

She went on to say that Unite will be lobbying a future Labour government to restore funding for public services decimated under 14 years of Tory austerity.

She noted that the union also has a role to play in speaking to women members to truly understand all the issues they’re facing. 

“After I was elected to the EC to represent women, one of my main priorities was visiting all the regional women’s committees to hear from members themselves,” she explained.

“The more committees I’ve attended, the more I’ve realised that many of the issues facing women in our regions are interlinked. We need to continue that work of speaking to women in rural areas – we cannot make assumptions for them.”

By Hajera Blagg