I think that each of us can only speak from our own
experiences. I certainly do realise that there are women
out there that do have problems in their work situations.
I've encountered that but of course that does not mean
that these problems don't exist for other people. That
has to be acknowledged. We don't all have the same
experiences. And our situations are different and varied.

I had tremendous support from various people. I did not
cope alone. So I was able to balance things out. Plus
I have terrific bosses who gave me so much encouragement.
I don't mean to sound like a Polyanna - only to acknowledge
that I have been extremely lucky.

Not everyone has been

And on the subject of - not everyone has been or
is as fortunate as I've been --

I do have to acknowledge that the WGEA - Workplace
Gender Equality Agency has estimated that Australian
women earn, on average 15.3% less than men - $1,387
per week compared with - $1,638 - and that this gap
has remained largely unchanged for 20 years.

Also we're told that top-tier female managers earn on
average 26.5% less than their male counterparts, with
nearly $40,000 of that difference coming from
additional remuneration including bonuses. And women
still make-up a small percentage in leadership positions.

There's a number of reasons why women earn less than
men. The two key ones are that women are more likely to
work part-time (around 75% of part-time workers are female)
and they are more heavily employed in lower-paying
occupations (such as healthcare and social assistance).

Also while gender pay gaps seem to be lower in organisations
with more female managers, the pay gap at the managerial
level rises sharply in favour of men. This suggests that
where men are few, they are more highly valued.

For women - lower lifetime earnings means less independence,
less security, and of course less power.

For the economy, it means less capital potential and
investment, which can impair economic growth, and increase
the burden on current and future governments as diminished
earnings mean more reliance on welfare.

According to analysts the median supperanuation balance of
women is just over half of that of men. Which means that a
nest egg that's expected to last 30 years or more, given
rising longevity of people's life-spans, won't make it.

Hi Foxy, thanks for joining in, not all on here are so understanding of the problems facing working women. I always seem to cop it on the forum from the 'Usual Suspects' for being male and willing to highlight the problems facing our sisters. I don't want to be a member of the 'Old Boys Club' so I don't have to follow their rules.

Look at the pay rates in traditionally female dominated professions, child care and nursing. The levels of remuneration and conditions are well below those of more traditional male occupations, why is that? The building industry and policing are examples of well paid jobs that previously were male dominated industries.

Hi Paul,

Many women have also reported being sexually harrassed
in the workplace. It appears to even be common in
professions like law and medicine.

I've got a niece who's a lawyer - and she has to cope with
it all the time. Apparently it's considered normal.
And you're expected to put up with it and not complain.

cont'd ...

I watched Q&A last night. A young law student
asked the panel what could be done to stop
harrassment in the workplace as she felt that all
of us should feel safe in our work environments.

Zero tolerance was the answer. Feeling safe should
be everyone's concern. Male or female.

Paul, Foxy, and you wonder why you get picked on.
You both want us to perceive you as progressive and the voice of the future, well I've got news for you both, we have been, so called, "progressing", since we were created, and I can say confidently, that the record will show that we have in fact been "regressing".
You complain as if 2020 is a better time than 1950.
Well the only response to that is bullsh!t.
All the things you have gone on about, were all much better in 1950 than today.
You complain that women were oppressed and men were overbearing.
Where the hell do you people get off, I don't know where you grew up but that's not the life and environment I remember, in fact as I got older, this place got more rancid and began smelling of so many wrongs, that today it literally stinks.
You go on and on boringly about the poor down trodden women, when in fact you are the problem not what you bleat on about.
As I recall women were if not happy, at least content, satisfied, settled and generally knew where they stood and what to expect and what was expected of them.
Today, who the hell knows WTF is going on.
The women, want this and that and the other thing and more, but in the end they are still not satisfied or happy or content or settled and definitely don't know where they stand or what to expect and what is expected of them.
Your portrayal of a 1950 woman or man for that matter, is at the very least disingenuous and an affront to our forebears or that generation of which we all experienced and I can tell you that what you are going on about is a pathetic attempt at elevating women to a position they are incapable of navigating.
As for the stupid joke of workplace harassment, unless the guy is dragging you by the hair into the toilets and rapes you, anything else is normal and quite harmless.
Think before you type.