27/07/2026
Every budget decision shapes our daily lives, from the bus you catch and the childcare you can access, to healthcare, pensions and more.
We know that women rely more on public services like these – childcare, transport, healthcare, and social security – because they do more unpaid care work because of gendered norms and expectations.
As a result, women are more likely to be in lower-paid or insecure work, twice as reliant on the social security system, and have lower and less access to pensions.
So, when governments are deciding how to spend public money, we know the impact isn't the same for everyone.
Gender budgeting asks, " Who benefits and who misses out?"
It looks at how public budgets affect women and men, and how choices within them can either reduce or reinforce inequality. It applies a gender lens to spending and taxation decisions, helping governments identify and address inequalities so public resources promote more equitable outcomes for women and men.
The Scottish Women’s Budget Group’s Gender Budgeting Toolkit provides a comprehensive framework to support the integration of gender budgeting into decision-making: swbg.org.uk/content/publications/Gender-Budgeting-Toolkit-Final-070126.pdf
And our latest blog outlines exactly what Gender Budgeting is, how women are affected, why Gender Budgeting is important, and how the SWBG’s Gender Budgeting Toolkit is a key resource for decision-makers: swbg.org.uk/blog
