There are better ways to get more female representation in parliament or anywhere else than affirmative action. It has to be realised that a large number of women already work a full time job as mothers. I don't believe that there is a glass ceiling but there are limits to how much anyone can manage at one time. There are plenty of women who could easily win on merit but the postions require commitments that do not coincide with access to childcare and/or the need for mothers to spend time with their families. This occurs to some extent with men too but not nearly as much.

Maybe instead of intense work with long unpredictable hours interspersed with long breaks in parliament that those in government positions could spread their workloads more evenly then we would see more women eager to take up the challenge. The same would apply if businesses would refrain from breakfast and after 5:00pm meetings.

Sorry tubley... for the gender reassignment...lol I too am a bloke.

I have experienced glass ceilings.... I worked in a company where one existed, where the male staff belittled women until they cried calling them weak... sheer bullying. Cowardly, illegal, deliberate undermining tactics! After that they couldn't be promoted... because wait for it ...women are too emotional. Their words never mine!

One lady couldn't fall pregnant due to the stresses put on her by the males. On Drs advice she resigned after 8 years of outstanding service Thankfully she had a lovely family. She was an excellent worker. Women can't complain when they have a management that won't listen. They have noone to turn to.

Many men would carcked under the stresses and the two women who resigned both stated that I was the only Director in the company to help them when they were being attacked and apologised profusely for letting me down when they resigned. I didn't feel let down, they had taken better positions where they would have better prospects and I supported them with honest glowing references.

I was hated by the men and if the women had chosen to sue I would have testified on their behalf as a Director against the company... How's that for being at the coal face Col?...

These woman were great managers ... but the other male directors lacked the guts to defend them or promote them. They aided the undermining and in effect held back their careers. It's what men say (yes even company Directors) when the wives aren't listening that proves the true character of the men.

You can pretend if you want that it isn't still happening but I can assure you that it is.

Everyone here agrees with a merit based system, BUT, must start with a level playing field where merit can be properly assessed. Once AA has done it's job then and only then will women get a fair go in the workforce.

Col you still seem to be forgetting to answer people's questions...Ha!

I was reading an article a while ago in some business-research magazine (hey, I was bored, it was there), that was talking about looking at the different ways people approached meetings, based on interviews with participants, and observation of the meetings.

One of the really interesting things that came out of the article for me, was about men and women in senior executive levels, and their pre/post meeting chit chat. The researcher noted that at the start of one of the meetings, a male participant commented that he was 'so tired' because he had been running the kids around all weekend to sport etc. Several of the other men in the meeting concurred and symapthised. The researcher noted that the two women in the meeting, both who had children, did not participate in the discussion, and asked why in a later one-on-one interview. They responded, separately, that at the senior level, women are not expected to mention children, or their private lives, as they are then seen as being 'too emotional' and 'not committed to the job'. There was then some comment from the researcher that in business, especially at higher levels, it seems that children and family concerns are seen as making men seem 'responsible' and 'caring', but are seen as making women seem 'over committed to home', and 'not rational enough' to be given full responsiblity.

It was an interesting analysis, and the more I look around at business and government and similar, the more I see that played out.

Tubley, “My statement is not void - your whole post is.”

I observed your post to be void for the reasons I actually stated.
What is glaringly absent is your reasoning to justify declaring my post “void”?

Certainly, since you have not presented any, it can reasonably be assumed you have no reasons and are snapping out of spite. Again, that bullying attitude keeps seeping out from with your drivel.
Good job you have only 8 year olds to deal with, similar levels of conduct among real men, who were tall enough to reach it, would see you with a bloodied nose, for sure.

Opinionated2, I understand the management culture of where you claim to have been Director. It emanates from a weak and apathetic culture, I must admit would not think much of it. But then, someone like me would avoid working in such a place. Well, at least that gave opportunity for someone like you. Btw are you still a director there?

Oh AA – you can turn the playing field on its side until its vertical and you will not manage to “even everything out”.

It is the eternal problem with “idealists” and apologists.

They start from “where we want to be”, completely ignoring “where we are” or why and how we got here.

They then assume they have all the knowledge and are dealing with all the relevant facts which influence why “we are where we are”.

Driven by obsessive self righteousness, they ignore any negative implications of their exercise in futility, insisting that we are really all better off for their meddling. Where as what they have done (I will not use the word achieved) adds nothing to the overall development of anyone, a lot of disruption and a lot of unjustifiable costs.

There is no justification for forcing AA on to any society. It is a socialist panacea and it is crap.

Col you say, “We all make choices, most blokes choose to do other things than hanging around with children”. What’s wrong with hanging around children? I don’t think there should a designated gender to be a primary school teacher. This seems to fly in the face of the other reasoned comments you make, I hope it’s an exception.

If “pregnancy and motherhood... are in fact, the hardest jobs in the world”, then most women reach their pinacle with relative ease. If such achievements come naturally to most women and can be repeated many times over by most in that sample, then perhaps what you really mean, is that “pregnancy and motherhood” is difficult, if not impossible, for MEN.

If that was what you meant Tubley, you would be so right! Even fatherhood is beyond reach or unsustainable for many deserving men.

If you are also implying that women appear tougher than men in primary school teaching, you are also right. Most male primary school teachers would need to feel castrated to remain in the field for any significant length of time these days. I read today that 45% do not see themselves teaching in 10 years time. I wonder why? Will you teach in 10 years time Tubley?