Wednesday, 5 March 2008
Gender equality - let's not let it become a lost Australian dream
Efforts to create equality between women and men in Australia have stagnated and may even be going backwards, Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick said today.
In a speech to be delivered in Sydney tomorrow marking International Women’s Day, Ms Broderick says despite the fact that few laws actively discriminate against women, real equality does not exist for many women in their daily lives.
“Eighty years ago when the first International Women’s Day rally was held in Sydney, women called for equal pay for equal work. Not only do we still not have this but the gap has widened over the last few years," Ms Broderick said.
"We still see few women in decision making roles. We are moving at a glacial pace. In the case of boardrooms, women's participation has only increased from 8.4 percent in 2003 to 8.7 percent in 2006.
“True equality does not seem like a radical demand, but even today there are many women who struggle to balance work and family. Sexual harassment is still alive and well,” she said.
“Make no mistake, we are no where near the so‑called ‘tipping point’ on gender equality.”
Commissioner Broderick said looking from the outside you could be forgiven for thinking that Australia is still a ‘man’s country’: where women have only one third the retirement savings of men; where paid maternity leave is still not a reality; and where women are questioning whether they can pursue opportunities available to other women in the western world.
Ms Broderick, who has just returned from the 52nd Session of the United Nation’s Commission on the Status of Women in New York, said there was a general view that Australia in recent times had moved away from its ground-breaking role it had previously played advocating for the rights of women, for example, through supporting the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
“From my informal discussions with women in the corridors of the United Nations building, it is clear to me that the international community is waiting and watching. Will Australia resume its leadership role in the journey towards gender equality?” Ms Broderick said.
“Globalisation and technology offer new ways of communicating with one another and influencing change. I urge women to capitalise on these advances and use them to push for a better future where women’s concerns are at centre stage, locally and globally.
“A new federal government gives women an enormous opportunity to influence Australia’s future direction. Achieving gender equality is at the heart of that future,” she said.
“But to do so we must speak up and stand together. We are a prosperous nation full of innovation and talent. Women make up more than 50 per cent of that potential. The sky is the limit.”
Media contact: Louise McDermott on (02) 9284 9851 or 0419 258 597
