CHASM Annual Conference 2024

The gender wealth gap: causes, consequences and solutions

Women face multiple structural disadvantages across the life course impacting their financial security and wellbeing. The gender pay gap, inadequate recognition and compensation for care work and ‘gender blind’ private pension systems are among the key causes. Socially constructed gender norms may also serve to influence the differentiated financial behaviours and outcomes of men and women.

All of these differences accumulate and crystallise in later life, resulting in a situation where women are much more likely to have lower levels of wealth and greater financial insecurity than men. Women are also more likely to require care in later life due to longer life expectancy, on average, but have fewer resources to fund that care.

At this year’s CHASM conference, we bring together the latest research evidence, expert analyses and real-life stories to better understand the causes and consequences of this longstanding inequality, and debate what more needs to be done to achieve sustainable improvement in women’s’ financial wellbeing.

CHASM is delighted to welcome three keynote speakers to the conference.

• Professor Debora Price, Professor of Social Gerontology at The University of Manchester. 

• Faith Reynolds, Adviser to the Board at TISA

• Jonquil Lowe, Senior Lecturer in Economics and Personal Finance.

This in-person CHASM Conference will be held at Friends House, Euston, London. Places are limited.

Agenda:

10.30am -11.00am      Arrival and Registration, including coffee/refreshments

11.00am - 11.15am       Introduction – Dr Louise Overton, Director of CHASM

11.15am - 11.40am       Professor Debbie Price, Professor of Social Gerontology, University of Manchester

11.40am - 12.05pm       Jonquil Lowe, Senior Lecturer in Economics and Personal Finance, Open University

12.05pm - 12.30pm       Faith Reynolds, Strategic Adviser and financial services consumer advocate

12.30pm - 12.50pm       Questions, Chaired by Professor Tom Shapiro, Brandeis University, Massachusetts

12.50pm - 1.50pm         Lunch

1.50pm - 2.30pm            Lived Experience Panel, Chair Kristian Fuzi, CHASM

2.30pm - 2.40pm            Introduction to CHASM's current work

2.40pm - 3.10pm            Networking break and CHASM showcase

3.10pm - 3.50pm            Professional Panel, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Government Equalities Office, Pensions Policy Institute (PPI), Financial Services sector

3.50pm - 4.00pm            Closing remarks

4.00pm - 4.30pm            Refreshments and networking