Working for Otepoti Women (Wow), formerly the YWCA, has released a report detailing findings from research looking into the needs of Dunedin women in late 2021.
The research was commissioned to help Wow ‘‘plan for the future’’ and make informed decisions about what support or opportunities women in Dunedin needed, the report said.
The research included an initial review of demographics, literature and policy related to women in Dunedin, a desktop survey of services and organisations with a focus on women in the city and interviews with 14 Otepoti women identified by others in the community as being key ‘‘culture bearers/leaders’’.
Across several focus areas researchers said they were disappointed by the lack of women-specific policies they discovered.
Findings included that a growing proportion of women in Dunedin were young (under 24 years of age) as well as diverse in ethnicity, socio-economic status, disability and sexuality.
These groups were at a greater risk of experiencing marginalisation, disadvantage and discrimination.
Negative impacts on Dunedin women’s lives included Covid-19 disproportionately affecting women, housing inequality, domestic and sexual violence and the gender pay gap.
To address those things, respondents were interested in intergenerational approaches and mechanisms that wove together younger and older women. They also highlighted the importance of valuing and telling women’s stories.
The research also found there was a need for Dunedin-based advocacy and funding organisations for women — most were based in Auckland or Wellington and many of those did not have a presence in Dunedin.
The 14 interview respondents said they saw great potential for future work that focused on opportunities to uplift and develop women, rather than providing welfare or crisis-centred support. They also saw development as something each woman defined for herself.
Wow co-chair Anna Parker said she was ‘‘delighted’’ to share the research in Dunedin.
‘‘We believe this report is a significant signpost that indicates a number of pathways where we can build a more equitable future for our city.’’
A Wow community hui to share the findings will take place via Zoom on Monday.
