--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As Minister for Women and Equalities, I…" description: "\"As Minister for Women and Equalities, I introduced shared parental leave, extended flexible working rights and won government support to bring in gende..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aeb/jo-swinson-5642_battle_as-minister-for-women-and-equalities-i-i_1051664.jpg" --- # As Minister for Women and Equalities, I introduced shared… ![“As Minister for Women and Equalities, I introduced shared parental leave, extended flexible working rights and won government support to bring in gender pay gap reporting. I'm not going to lie: it was a constant battle.” quote by Jo Swinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aeb/jo-swinson-5642_battle_as-minister-for-women-and-equalities-i-i_1051664.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aeb/jo-swinson-5642_battle_as-minister-for-women-and-equalities-i-i_1051664.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aeb/jo-swinson-5642_battle_as-minister-for-women-and-equalities-i-i_1051664.jpg) > “As Minister for Women and Equalities, I introduced shared parental leave, extended flexible working rights and won government support to bring in gender pay gap reporting. I'm not going to lie: it was a constant battle.” [Jo Swinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-swinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocating for gender equality through policy changes, despite ongoing resistance, highlights the difficulty of systemic reform. **In simple terms:** Promoting gender equality policies is a tough, ongoing fight. Key Takeaway Persist in pushing equality reforms. Themes equality policy politics Mood determined serious Type political advocacy When to use this quote - legislative sessions - public debates - media interviews Key Concepts gender pay gap parental leave flexible work Questions to Reflect On - What strategies overcome political resistance? - How to measure policy impact? A Different Perspective Opposition may stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Equalities Introduced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equalities-introduced-2518884/) [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Gender Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gender-pay-748799/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Lie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lie/) [Minister Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minister-women-712465/) [Parental Leave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parental-leave-1557804/) [Pay gap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay-gap/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) [Women Equalities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-equalities-2518883/) ## Related quotes > [I firmly believe that my dual roles as secretary of state for education and minister for women and equalities are closely linked. Never is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-morgan/i-firmly-believe-that-my-dual-roles-as-secretary-of-state-for/) [Nicky Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-morgan/) > [It's true that the gender pay gap is complicated. It's true that it is very slowly getting smaller. But that doesn't mean it doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bates/it-s-true-that-the-gender-pay-gap-is-complicated-it-s-true-that-it-is/) [Laura Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bates/) > [The risk of reputational damage, causing good female talent to decline to work for a firm based on its disclosure, is the strongest reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-morgan/the-risk-of-reputational-damage-causing-good-female-talent-to-decline/) [Nicky Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-morgan/) > [When we talk about gender pay gaps in the United States, and if you look at women without children, they earn 96 cents for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-marie-slaughter/when-we-talk-about-gender-pay-gaps-in-the-united-states-and-if-you/) [Anne-Marie Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-marie-slaughter/) > [It's not often that Rwanda's record on women's rights surpasses Britain's. But, shamefully, when it comes to the gender pay gap, the U.K. has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-newman/it-s-not-often-that-rwanda-s-record-on-women-s-rights-surpasses/) [Cathy Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-newman/) > [“The Institute for Women’s Policy Research in the United States estimates that in 2015 women working full time earned only seventy-nine cents for every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-saini/the-institute-for-women-s-policy-research-in-the-united-states/) [Angela Saini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-saini/) > [It's 2014, and women are still paid less than men. Does this suggest that a gender pay gap is an unfortunately permanent fixture? Will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sendhil-mullainathan/it-s-2014-and-women-are-still-paid-less-than-men-does-this-suggest/) [Sendhil Mullainathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sendhil-mullainathan/) > [If we want to make the most of half of our workforce, if we want to eliminate the gender pay gap and we want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-morgan/if-we-want-to-make-the-most-of-half-of-our-workforce-if-we-want-to/) [Nicky Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-morgan/) > [In the position of chancellor, I believe the biggest impact that I can make to the lives of ordinary women, women who go out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-reeves/in-the-position-of-chancellor-i-believe-the-biggest-impact-that-i-can/) [Rachel Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-reeves/) > [We will never achieve equality in the workplace until we have more equality in the home. Our plans for an extra four weeks of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-swinson/we-will-never-achieve-equality-in-the-workplace-until-we-have-more/) [Jo Swinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-swinson/) > [Shared parental leave is good for dads. Looking after their newborn on their own is a unique learning experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-swinson/shared-parental-leave-is-good-for-dads-looking-after-their-newborn-on/) [Jo Swinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-swinson/) > [Being transparent about parental leave and pay policies will help build a workplace culture where men also feel supported in taking on their fair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-swinson/being-transparent-about-parental-leave-and-pay-policies-will-help/) [Jo Swinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-swinson/) > [I think there's more women that watch me than men, but I don't look at myself as just a minister to women. My ministry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/i-think-there-s-more-women-that-watch-me-than-men-but-i-don-t-look-at/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [An interim government was set up in Afghanistan. It included two women, one of whom was Minister of Women's Affairs. Man, who'd she have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/an-interim-government-was-set-up-in-afghanistan-it-included-two-women/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [The United States is the only advanced economy with no paid parental leave for either mothers or fathers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-schulte/the-united-states-is-the-only-advanced-economy-with-no-paid-parental/) [Brigid Schulte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-schulte/) ## More by Jo Swinson > [If you're going for an interview, you will dress smartly and look the part, that is absolutely fine, but it's just the level to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-swinson/if-you-re-going-for-an-interview-you-will-dress-smartly-and-look-the/) [Jo Swinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-swinson/) > [When I was pregnant during my time in Parliament, I was frequently asked by the media how I would manage being an MP and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-swinson/when-i-was-pregnant-during-my-time-in-parliament-i-was-frequently/) [Jo Swinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-swinson/) > [Having studied politics doesn't necessarily give you political nous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-swinson/having-studied-politics-doesn-t-necessarily-give-you-political-nous/) [Jo Swinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-swinson/) > [I knock on lots of doors, but you don't reach everyone that way - Twitter is just one of many ways of keeping in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-swinson/i-knock-on-lots-of-doors-but-you-don-t-reach-everyone-that-way/) [Jo Swinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-swinson/) > [Research shows that when children have no body confidence at school they're less likely to put their hand up in class and ask a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-swinson/research-shows-that-when-children-have-no-body-confidence-at-school/) [Jo Swinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-swinson/) > [Much of political decision-making concentrates power in the hands of those already inside the circle, who tend to be men. Excluding women may not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-swinson/much-of-political-decision-making-concentrates-power-in-the-hands-of/) [Jo Swinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-swinson/) > [We champion freedom - but Brexit will mean the next generation is less free to live, work and love across Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-swinson/we-champion-freedom-but-brexit-will-mean-the-next-generation-is-less/) [Jo Swinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-swinson/) > [I still have a good girl deep inside, but also recognise that it's worth saying things people will disagree with or get annoyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-swinson/i-still-have-a-good-girl-deep-inside-but-also-recognise-that-it-s/) [Jo Swinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-swinson/) > [I am so glad that as a party the Liberal Democrats are united in our resolve to fight for staying in the EU -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-swinson/i-am-so-glad-that-as-a-party-the-liberal-democrats-are-united-in-our/) [Jo Swinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-swinson/) > [As minister for business and minister for women and equalities, it is clear to me that promoting equality of opportunity simply makes good business…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-swinson/as-minister-for-business-and-minister-for-women-and-equalities-it-is/) [Jo Swinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-swinson/) > [The rise of populism has steadily coalesced movements of millions of people around its divisive us-against-them rhetoric, motivating so many more people to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-swinson/the-rise-of-populism-has-steadily-coalesced-movements-of-millions-of/) [Jo Swinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-swinson/) > [Equalities issues are a key part of the Liberal Democrats and under my leadership we would push for them at every opportunity - whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-swinson/equalities-issues-are-a-key-part-of-the-liberal-democrats-and-under/) [Jo Swinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-swinson/) > [One of the initiatives I have pursued in Parliament has been to make it easier for the public to see what their MPs do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-swinson/one-of-the-initiatives-i-have-pursued-in-parliament-has-been-to-make/) [Jo Swinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-swinson/) > [Politicians should be judged on their actions, rather than necessarily their views on scripture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-swinson/politicians-should-be-judged-on-their-actions-rather-than-necessarily/) [Jo Swinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-swinson/) > [I loved reading. I was one of those kids who was supposed to go to bed but had a torch under the duvet. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-swinson/i-loved-reading-i-was-one-of-those-kids-who-was-supposed-to-go-to-bed/) [Jo Swinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-swinson/) [Explore all 100 Jo Swinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-swinson/) ## More Battle quotes > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [“Which people take the time to care for their souls, these days? I reckon not many. But...hear this: I think that maybe in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fletcher/which-people-take-the-time-to-care-for-their-souls-these-days-i/) [Susan Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fletcher/) > [Only great and general battles can produce great results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/only-great-and-general-battles-can-produce-great-results/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Life is a battle of wits, and many people have to fight it unarmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/life-is-a-battle-of-wits-and-many-people-have-to-fight-it-unarmed/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [There's little in taking or giving, There's little in water or wine: This living, this living, this living, Was never a project of mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/there-s-little-in-taking-or-giving-there-s-little-in-water-or-wine/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [I knew Jimmy Dean. He tested for 'Battle Cry'. Paul Newman tested for 'Battle Cry'. I did nine tests to finally get that role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-knew-jimmy-dean-he-tested-for-battle-cry-paul-newman-tested-for/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [“When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-we-let-go-of-our-battles-and-open-our-heart-to-things-as-they/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Love is a battle," said Marie-Claude, still smiling. "And I plan to go on fighting. To the end." Love is a battle?" said Franz.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/love-is-a-battle-said-marie-claude-still-smiling-and-i-plan-to-go-on/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [It's almost ironic sitting here watching stories about Norm's courageous 'battle' with cancer. He actually did a bit on stage about how stupid that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/it-s-almost-ironic-sitting-here-watching-stories-about-norm-s/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [“Other folk thought the Rage was simple bloodlust, a berserk savagery that neither knew nor cared what its target was, and so it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-weber/other-folk-thought-the-rage-was-simple-bloodlust-a-berserk-savagery/) [David Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-weber/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [For many people it's Facebook, or sports on TV, whatever it is. I have my own demons that I battle. But whatever they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/for-many-people-it-s-facebook-or-sports-on-tv-whatever-it-is-i-have/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) [Browse all 4,526 Battle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As Minister for Women and Equalities, I introduced shared parental leave, extended flexible working rights and won government support to bring in gender pay gap reporting. 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