Welfare cuts have hit women hardest – a step back on the path to equality

There's no avoiding the facts: austerity has been gendered. In fact, 74% of the money cut by the coalition via changes to the benefits and tax system has come from women's pockets

As the coalition's first term draws to a close, it seems a reasonable moment to ask: has the government's programme of austerity disproportionately attacked women?

It's difficult to argue otherwise when in the past five years, studies have repeatedly shown that women have borne the burden of cuts to welfare. Last month the Fawcett Society reported that a staggering 74% of the money saved from benefit and tax changes since 2010 has come directly from women's pockets. To put it another way: 22bn of the 26bn saved from welfare reform has been taken from women. Make no mistake - auesterity has been gendered.