Get rid of this stereotyping

There are in excess of 6.5million carers in the UK.

That’s one in eight of us.

But did you know that six out of 10 carers are women?

Many of them are mothers, who were unable to take a well deserved break on Mother’s Day recently.

Why are there so many more female than male carers?

The charity, Revitalise, provides respite holidays for disabled people and carers from across the UK

In a survey we found that eight out of 10 female carers thought that women felt pressured into the role of carer on account of their gender.

We think there is a widely held view in society that caring is somehow “women’s work”.

There are around 2.65million male carers in the UK who would strongly disagree.

So isn’t it high time we got rid of such lazy stereotypes?

If women are feeling unfairly pressured into giving up their careers, hopes and plans to become carers solely because of their gender, we think that is quite wrong.

At Revitalise we think much more needs to be done to support unpaid family carers across the board, including enabling them to have respite breaks.

Get behind Revitalise’s essential work supporting disabled people and carers, male and female, from across the UK.

For more information and to find out how you can help, call 0303 303 0145 or visit www.revitalise.org.uk.

Colin Brook,

Revitalise,

Upper Street,

London.