Women

Traditional Role of women in society

• Historically  women have been seen as holding an inferior place to men [Genesis
3:16 ‘You will be subject to your husband]
• Viewed as UNITA CARO  ‘one body’  lost identity to husband
• Role of women in society determined by their marital status

Women at Work
1963  Women’s Bureau is established  this saw to promote womens issues through
parliament

1966  ‘Marriage Bar’  which compelled women to resign from public service lifted

1969  Aust Conciliation and Arbitration Commission  first steps toward ‘equal pay for
equal work’  However, didn’t apply to industries where work ‘usually or essentially done
by women’

1970  Committee for womens employment established  Independent group aimed at

promoting interest of women through lobbying govt and initiating policy

1972  Aust Conciliation and Arbitration Commission ruling grants that work of equal
value should receive equal pay

1974  AAAC grants women the medium adult wage, same which men getting since
1966

1975  Women’s Advisory Council is established in NSW to advise govt

1976  Office of Women’s Affairs established as branch of PM’s dept  this was to
promote interests of women (now 50% pop.)

1977  Anti-Discrimination Act (NSW) - gender - marital status

1984  Sex Discrimination Act (Cth)  prevents discrimination based on gender, marital
status, pregnancy, when going for services and goods (e.g. home loans)

1986  Affirmative Action (Equal Employment Opportunity for women) Act (Cth) 
remove barriers in workplace
 Problems for women in workforce
Wages
• 84% pay of men  ABS 2000
• 1999 study  average fortnightly wages earned:
o M = 798.40
o F = 669.60

Stereotype of women’s work

• Despite equal pay gains  still concentrated in particular areas of workforce which
are lower paid than those dominated by men
o Typists  98.5%
o Nurses  94%
o Teachers  70%
o Receptionists  86.5%
 Daily Telegraph August 2003

Education
• Leves v Haines (1986)  school didn’t offer industrial art subjects, court ruled these
were not offered due to stereotypical reasons.
o This placed women at a disadvantage  court rules therefore they had to be
offered

Women viewed as homemakers

• Usually bear greater domestic duties
• Lack of affordable childcare facilities  these lead to:
 Less over time and majority part time to perform domestic duties (75%
P/T are women)
• More likely to miss work because children are sick
• Broken working life (child birth)

Lack of Female Role Models

• Harder to aspire to top corporate positions
• Discrimination  less likely to gain promotions
Enterprise Bargainning and over award payments
• Federal Govt conducted survey which showed men 60% more likely to gain pay rise
under E.B.
o “likely to get significantly less than their male counterparts” (SMH 22/9/93)
• Over award payments  HREOC stated less likely to gain due to nature of their
work

Glass ceiling effect

• The invisible barriers created by male prejudice  prevent women from being
promoted above certain levels
o Proven by:
• Professor Still of Uni Western Syd  1993, women in senior
management positions fell to 1.3% from 2.5% in 1984

Indirect Discrimination
• High court ruled indirect discrimination by BHP against 700 women
• Due to ‘last on, first off’ policy  meant women were likely to be discriminated
against  compensation ordered

Sexual Harassment
• Refers to any unwanted sexual advances or conduct in workplace  take form of;
smacking, crude jokes, displaying pics of naked women on computer screens
• General pattern of harassment  shows often people in positions of power who
sexually harass fellow workerd
• Often not reported through fear of losing job
• Of harassment complaints received by Anti-Discrimination board in 93-94  40%
related to sexual harassment
• Hall and Others v A Sheiban Pty Ltd and Sons (1989)  doctor asking intimate
personal questions during consultations
 Discrimination
• Treatment of one person differently to another in the same situation due to
that persons membership of a particular group in society

2 types of Discrimination
• Direct: - someone acts to treat someone differently
• Indirect: - action results in one group being treated unfavourably

Main Laws
• Anti-Discrimination Act (NSW) 1977

• Sex Discrimination Act (Cth) 1984

• Race Discrimination Act (Cth) 1975

• HREOC Act (Cth) 1986