‘We want equality and recognition’, say 100 older women in five-year research project

Equal rights, good work and recognition of unpaid labour are some of the demands from a collective voice of 100 diverse Manchester women aged fifty-plus, following a research project led by Manchester Met.

To coincide with International Women’s Day on 8^th March, the culmination of the five-year Uncertain Futures project will be unveiled at an immersive exhibition at Manchester Art Gallery, featuring short films, layered visuals and voices, photography and an official ‘manifesto for change’.

‘Stories of Women, Work and Uncertain Futures’ combines academic research led by Manchester Met in partnership with Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester City Council and the University of Manchester, with art and activism, and is the third and concluding exhibition in an immense collaborative project.

At the centre are 100 women from Manchester’s diverse communities who took part in in-depth interviews with researchers that revealed the inequalities faced by older women later in life in relation to work, gender, age, race, disability, and migration status.

The researchers published their findings in a final report in December, and this latest concluding exhibition brings together elements of the project including creative co-curation from acclaimed US artist Suzanne Lacy, excerpts from the women’s interviews brought to life in immersive form, and the official manifesto for change.

Calling for a right to be treated equally, good work for all women, an economic contribution for the unpaid labour of women and participation in political decision making on issues affecting women over 50, the manifesto comprises four clear demands.

It also includes a series of endorsements including the Real Living Work Campaign and the universal basic income campaign, as well as national and local actions such as eliminating the gender pay and pension gaps.

Dr Sarah Campbell, Senior Lecturer in Health and Social Care at Manchester Met and lead Uncertain Futures researcher, said: “This exhibition marks the conclusion of our vast and multifaceted five-year project, but we hope it’s just the start of significant and seismic changes to the way that older women are perceived and treated.

“Our research revealed the gaping inequalities faced by women across their life-course when it comes to work and wellbeing. Our demands are simple – for the voices of these women to be heard and for urgent action to be taken to address the multiple discriminations they face.”

Already, the project has been making political waves, with it being highlighted in a United Nations progress report of their Decade of Healthy Ageing in December for its important contribution to national progress on healthy ageing.

Discussions are also underway with Manchester City Council on how the project findings will influence their next ten-year strategy, plus talks and briefings on the research are currently taking place with various MPs and government ministers.

As part of the Manchester Art Gallery exhibition a powerful film by artist Suzanne Lacy will be screened featuring excerpts from the 100 interviews undertaken by Manchester Met researchers and narrated within a theatrical space by a core group of project leaders.

For more information on the Uncertain Futures project, the manifesto for change, and the ‘Stories of Women, Work and Uncertain Futures’ exhibition at Manchester Art Gallery, go to uncertainfuturesproject.co.uk