To keep things in perspective to the rest of the world, people living in tents, make shift camps, having their homes bull-dozed, as well as not knowing where their next meal is coming from, having a kitchen-sink go back to is Paradise in comparison.

Women minorities in workforce - Pimps

A former employee of a Perth Engineering company who was paid less than her male superior despite doing a higher level of work has had her sexual discrimination case thrown out of court.

The Judges who presided over the case found that Ms Turner and Mr Hunter had been inequitabley treated but this had nothing to do with their sex.

The engineering company who employs 140 staff has a ratio of 20 females and 120 males.

The 20 females mostly made up the lower paid administration jobs and was described as a male-dominated workplace where sexism was insidious in covert attitudes and conduct.

The engineering company who has no equal opportunity policy or formal job descriptions paid Ms Turner $8000 less a year despite being her male being less experienced and less competent.

Ms Turner had performed higher duties at every occassion without reward or recognition.

The judges however failed to find disparity between wages and titles because of her sex.

Ms Turner said this week she had lost faith in equal opportunity and the message is out that the ordinary worker doesn't have a chance.

As we move forward to the proposed change in legislation to our Industrial Awards, we will once again see a dilution of the issue and outcomes that consistantly support a fact that the female worker is underpaid and not recognised for her abilities.

Women's contributions in the overall profit needs to be accurately evaluted not the "Pimps" allowance women currently are paid in many workplaces.

The saving made by a male dominated senior management and the executive forces, in its consistant form, only serves to allow the top levels of business to pay themselves more than what they are worth and the value that they have given themselves.

Managements justifications of salaries of high amounts normally equate to added responsibility made through purchases which only create more debt for a company.

This imbalance is also to the detriment of a Business and should be realised in the overall evaluation of who is really useful and productive.

noted sue,

you must remember that a company is like a car, with a CEO being the driver of that car.

each individual slots into a machine, and whilst it is vital for each segment to work efficiently, the real success comes from the steely, innovative nature of the CEO.

Everyone can put their hand up and say how important they are, but like a car each part can be replaced by another with a similar efficiency.

The majority of the poor may fall into the mentioned child trap, but as with the rich people those poor people with the drive usually make it no matter where we come from, and we are one of the few countries in the world where the world is still your oyster no matter your background, if it is your clear vision to get somewhere.

As for women not gettig equal pay, enterprise bargain for god sake, no one is sexist in the manner people like to think in 2006, a woman with the goods to perform will get paid what she negotiates. If you are worth it, ask for it. in fact, it holds you in higher esteem if you do so coming from the side of the fence of an empolyer.

No one is out to get you women. Unfortunately your anatomy means you will bear children etc, but this should not stop you or your motivation to succeed, as you still can pursue big dreams and make it.

Stop looking for reasons why you can, and find the reasons why you can. The glass is half full ladies.

An interesting article by Alison Wolf.

I have some questions - is it true that volunteerism is in decline. My understanding - which may be flawed - is that volunteerism in Australia is alive and well. Maybe a little of the old fundraising via cake-bakes has declined (largely replaced by corporate donations - often flawed, though as was narowly, morally based volunteerism), but volunteering of time and expertise is at a highpoint in Australia and on offer from both genders. Furthermore, retired (but now healthy given the wonders of modern medicine and good nuturian) older people are taking up volunteerism where younger (now employed) women have left off. A great way for older people to remain vital and to continue contributing to and engaging with society.

Secondly, are we at a mid-point of social change where the end picture could resolve the mid-point problems? Will men increasingly share the responsiblity of childcare thus changing the nature of society and making this no longer women's domain hence problem. While I concede this may not be a widespread phenomena - the robust role of men in the home (including giving up work for a couple of years to look after the toddlers while the high wage earning professional women earns on) is a common experience in my social group and family. Perhaps this a tiny but growing trend that will tranform this debate?

I agree with Shell: good article, a lot of good points and we are in a transition. Not just the transition of men helping more with the kids, but also of people living longer, being healthy enough to work and volunteer longer.

The old dogma was that if you took time with the kids for a few years, your career was stuffed. If you are 26 now and thinking that you have a good chance that you might live to be 90, you might think "well then I might work in some way until I am 70." A 20 year retirement does not sound too bad. If you are 26 now you will be retiring in 2050 and you might think medical technology and improved lifestyle might give you a pretty good retirement. That means taking a few slower years when you are 26 to help with the kids and starting back up hard at it when you are 30 means you still have a 40 year career ahead of you. A lot of people will think that this little blip does not mean your career is really stuffed.

50 years ago when life expectancy was 58, you had to plan your life much differently. If you missed a couple years your career was half over. Now it is easier to take some time and still have a long successful career. As time goes on this transition will continue, workplaces will become more friendly for families and "elite" couples will have more children.

On a separate subject, its great that Online Opinion gets these good articles on a variety of topics. Well done and thanks OLO.

I believe that the current Higer Education Loan Program (HELP) which is the payment of fees for courses also acts as a barrier for women and others who come from minority groups.

A woman, may carry for instance a HELP debt for greater length of thime after graduating from a law degree, taking time out for family as well adds to the challenge of paying for their studies.

The highpowered corporate legal world where the money is big bucks is far from what most women graduates will achieve in the current climate.

I would like to suggest that as a way of paying off their debts that law students and law graduates are able to provide legal aid services which are credited against their HELP Debt.

as it is at the moment the rich can pay for their studies up front and recive a discount = just for being rich you save money.
Marcus