Letters: Our generation's not been given equal opportunities

All the publicity about crooked private pension scheme scams on TV and in the media is a real thought-provoker. Of course, I feel empathy for the people who have been victims of scams, who wouldn't?
There has not been a level playing field for women says a correspondent. See letterThere has not been a level playing field for women says a correspondent. See letter
There has not been a level playing field for women says a correspondent. See letter

To have your pension plans and dreams shattered is devastating. It is great that it is getting coverage but why is the ‘robbery’ of our state pension not being blazoned across the TV too?The answer is because we weren’t ripped off by some salesperson, we are being ‘ripped off’ by our own government and we had no choice but to ‘buy into it’.With no letters, no notice and no opportunity to make financial provision, women (starting with those born in the 1950s) have been systematically ‘robbed’.Had we been given a level playing field to start with, we might have had half a chance, but our generation has not been given equal opportunities. We have had inequality throughout our lives.Women still do not earn as much as men, and when it comes to childcare and care of elderly relatives, women tend to assume the role of carer, so had more years out of the workplace or worked part-time. All this against us and still these changes are supposed to be in the name of equalisation.We have had another six or more working years thrust upon us, not 18 months as is often quoted (that refers to the 2011 legislation only). The government’s own appointed ‘expert’ John Cridland recommends future state pension age increases allows individuals 10 years notice for every one year increase, yet we get an increase that equates to 10 per cent of our entire lifetime or more. There are a lot of very upset women, figures suggest more than 3.5 million of us. The government would be wise to remember we all have the right to vote and we will be exercising that right in favour of a party that will help us, not punish us for being women of a certain age.Chris Joyce via email