Hi Foxy, ALTRAV is like many men, he has a problem taking directions from a women, or being under the control of a woman, be it the female manager at work, or the woman driving the bus. He feels it somehow lessens his male position of dominance. For example if Carol the female manager was to say to him; "Al, in future I want to see you scrubbing those toilet bowls, otherwise its sack Al time! and Al was forced to cry; "Sorry Ms Smith, please don't sack me Ms Smith, I'm the breadwinner at my house, and the cheese and kisses and the little bambeanos rely on me." Or if the woman driving the bus was to yell at Al "I don't care if you're 98, next time show your concession pass or its walk'n time." Al reply's "Sorry about that I'll will show it next time, I can't walk, I'll be late for work, and Ms Smith will sack me."
Lunchtime.... Al to his mate Buffo; " A lousy Vegemite sandwich for lunch again from the misses, can't complain, she'll beat me up, ... I hate women and Vegemite!"

One thing that's more obvious now since more females joined Parliament is that the country is somewhat stagnating. it's a toss-up between more females or all ex lawyers amongst the men.
Whichever it is it is not working for country.

Paul, your comments are as fanciful as Foxy's.
As you don't know me I take it you are describing yourself and your relationship with your wife.
Perhaps you might have a go at answering foxy's dilemma.
She spews out these opinions about what she believes the 'new age neuter' is all about without realising the huge flaw in her fantasy.
The question is, in reference to Foxy's suggestion that;
In the past men have suffered mentally or died prematurely because of the stress of being the breadwinner or provider for the family, so I ask why does she feel it's ok for women to suffer the same fate in them taking the place of men.
The fact that Foxy appears to take the moral high ground is a good act, when all along she is pushing the somewhat feminist or 'females first' agenda.
She portrays a self-effacing image but hidden in her rhetoric is this push for women and a future where women are in charge and the men presumed to become more effeminate and lose, as she puts it, the 'superman' image.
I suppose I should thank her for elevating men to such a position because without her describing us in this way we would have never known that we were somehow superior to women. So in that sense I suppose I should be thanking her for her adoration and praise for men and in holding us in such high esteem.

Dear Paul,

History and statistics tell the full story I
could go on and on in this discussion - having
studied Sociology - but there's no point.

We have the
recent example of Julia Gillard who was so fraught with
a perverse fixation on her gender and perceived "inadequacies"
of women in leadership that we saw Australia still has a
lot of growing up to do when it comes to getting our
collective head around the inherent power of diversity.

Different standards are applied to women in leadership positions.
Ambition is seen as a positive attribute for men, for women
it's a negative.

Many men in our society still do not trust women to wear the
wig and gown, to wield the scalpel, to deliver their babies,
to preach from the pulpit, or to take a seat in Parliament.

Men in those professions and the networks that have developed
are strong - and many actively resist women.

However, things are inevitably changing - as women acquire
the skills and the education necessary to achieve. And men
after some hesitancy, are generally reacting positively to
the growing equality of women.

On a personal note, I have worked full-time all of my life.
I have studied, acquired several degrees, worked and
travelled overseas, raised a family, and whatever has been
achieved has been done - with the full support and
help from my husband.

See you on another discussion.

How can anyone say women are working more, while in the same breath they say women are earning less.

Sorry, does not work as the disparity in wages is not that high.

Another undeniable fact is that there have been three women in high profile roles, Gillard, Bligh and Pal...all have been dismal failures in their roles although in the defence of Gillard, she did follow on from the Kevin 07 train wreck. Then there is Julie Bishop, a potential alternative to Turnbull, in self destruct mode.

Sorry, but history doesn't lie, nor does it take sides.

Dear rehctub,

There are plenty of websites that you can look up
regarding the gender pay gap. And they don't lie.

Gender pay gaps are especially wide among high-income
earners. The Australian Tax Office figures show some
of the biggest discrepancies between men and women
are amongst those employed as barristers, financial
traders, and surgeons.

Figures released recently by the Federal Government's
Workplace Gender Equity Agency revealed a 28% gender pay
gap amongst general managers based on full time renumeration.

Cheers.