Gender inequality drives child poverty and health gaps in Wales

A report commissioned by Public Health Wales and conducted by researchers at Liverpool John Moores University indicates that gender inequality is a structural driver of child poverty and health disparities in Wales. The study, titled ‘Why Gender Matters: Child Poverty and Health Inequalities’, highlights that one in three children under the age of four in Wales currently lives in poverty.

The research identifies a ‘motherhood penalty’ where women face reduced earning potential and career progression due to childcare costs, limited state support, and unequal parental leave uptake. While men’s economic outcomes remain relatively insulated by fatherhood, women are disproportionately represented in low-paid, part-time, and insecure employment.

Furthermore, women bear a greater share of unpaid caring responsibilities for children and elderly relatives. These economic disparities often accumulate over time, leading to significant gaps in savings, wealth, and pensions, which impact long-term financial security. The report notes that poverty risks are further intensified when gender inequality intersects with disability or ethnicity.