Engenders Equality Counting project brought groups of women disadvantaged by a public service provision together to research their issue and make the service provider aware of their concerns.  One of the groups has been transgender women who have now produced a report on  the inequality of access to NHS services for transwomen.  The report will be launched in the Cullen Room, Royal College of Physicians, 9 Queen Street, Edinburgh on Wednesday 29th June, 5pm - 8pm.  Please contact Rosaria@engender.org.uk if you would like to come along to the launch.   Find out more about Equality Counting here. The report will be available on our website after the launch. 

The Institute of Fiscal Studies have published research into who is set to lose most as a result of the governments changes to tax and benefits.  Carried out at the request of the Fawcett Society, the research shows clearly that single mothers will be hardest hit, losing a staggering 8.5% of their net income in the next four years.  Read more 

The Government plans to combine out-of-work, in-work and housing benefits/tax credits into a single means-tested benefit in 2013.   The UK Women's Budget Group have published details of how this universal credit would 'adversely affect progress towards gender equality'.  Read Universal Credit and Gender Equality

Caitlin Moran's new book  'How to be a woman' has been getting a lot of publicity this week, culminating with an appearance on Newsnight where she was invited to discuss the contradictions facing 21st century women in the face of an increasingly sexualised culture. Joined by Kat Banyard from UK Feminista and Belle De Jour author, Brooke Magnanti, the discussion saw Jeremy Paxman look slightly uncomfortable - well worth a watch!   View it here - package starts at 15.52 and studio discussion at 21.50 

The current Labour party review 'Refounding Labour' sees the party looking at it's structure and processes after it's general election defeat last year.  Lead for Women have submitted a paper calling on the party to restate it's credentials as a feminist party and renew it's commitment to 50/50 representation through enforcing the policy of all-women shortlists and improving selection interviews.  Read the submission here   

Employment Minister, Chris Grayling was in Brussels last week lobbying against the EU directive to set minimum maternity leave of 20 weeks at full pay for women in European member states.  Read more...

The EU have issued a draft directive for comment which proposes that a third of directors of European banks shouldbe women.  Read more... 

The European Institute for Gender Equality are seeking a Gender Expert in Research, Statistics and Indices.  Closing date for applications is 13th July. Read more... 

Love books?  Glasgow Women's Library are holding a book sale this Saturday (25th June) from 10.30-3.30pm.  Lots of books - fiction and non-fiction - are going cheap so head along to GWL, 15 Berkeley Street, Glasgow, G3 7BW for a bargain.