Letter: Women worse off? Not here

IN THE article "Equality street blues (1 March), Mary-Ann Stephenson of the Fawcett Society states that for the poorest workers, the pay gap "between men and women is much bigger" than elsewhere. Obviously, therefore, a cause for concern amongst a body interested in "employment and poverty".

Yet so should the fact that most new jobs today appear to be aimed at the traditional female market, especially those of a part-time nature. Is it merely a coincidence that male unemployment in my town of Grimsby is four times the female level?

I believe that any organisation interested in helping the disadvantaged should realise that society has changed radically, and that gender is not the most important issue to consider.

Tim Mickleburgh

Grimsby, Lincolnshire