tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post8482046721448189878..comments2023-10-07T22:37:49.244+13:00Comments on The Hand Mirror: The stubborn gender gap - the Market is not providingkatyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15742280289613450293noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-58860057303015116152012-11-13T09:30:12.402+13:002012-11-13T09:30:12.402+13:00Re: parental leave, it will be great too when it b...Re: parental leave, it will be great too when it becomes normal to take longer periods. Australian friends of mine are currently into the second year of doing a year each. Not particularly radical there but I feel like this would be considered extravagant and/or irresponsible in many workplaces here.<br /><br />Re: gender pay gap, good point about the struggle being led from within the unions etc. The gender pay gap is generally wider in the private sector where workers do not tend to organise collectively to the same extent as in the public sector. So it will be necessary for all unions to take this up.katyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15742280289613450293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-9738287166447412862012-11-13T09:02:28.584+13:002012-11-13T09:02:28.584+13:00I missed that October one at the time, thanks for ...I missed that October one at the time, thanks for the link. The October story looks at the 12 monthly income survey, whereas the November one I mentioned examines the quarterly employment survey. What the difference is between these two measures I am not sure! Have asked a stats person of my acquaintance and will share if I can.<br /><br />In terms of the sharing of parenting (and other unpaid caring work) I think there has been gradual improvement over the years and I imagine this will continue. One of the main reasons I support the extension of paid parental leave to 26 weeks is that it will become a more realistic option, given that length of time, for partners to share it between them, which should hopefully mean more fathers feel they can take time off for parenting. Currently they can, legally, but it is unpaid and the social pressures aren't in favour of doing so. My own partner took 6 months off, after I had the first 9 months off (this required agreement of his employer as it meant our combined parental leave was more than the statutory protected 12 months). Friends of mine took 6 months each. Change is happening, but it's pretty slow. Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08977150346842277994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-55697103338676049682012-11-12T20:13:57.304+13:002012-11-12T20:13:57.304+13:00Wait, how do we reconcile this story with one from...Wait, how do we reconcile this story with one from last month: http://www.3news.co.nz/Gender-pay-gap-at-record-low/tabid/423/articleID/271532/Default.aspx<br /><br />Both surveys come from Statistics NZ, yet one shows the pay gap the lowest it has been since 1997, and the other saying the highest it has been in 10 years. Lies, damn lies, and statistics right?<br /><br />At least they use a better set of comparisons (average hourly earnings) than some other income surveys, so no arguments on that front. <br /><br />It would be interesting to know how much the Canterbury rebuild will skew the figures over the next while - after all, construction is a very male-dominated profession and there is a high demand for skilled people coming through. <br /><br />Solving the pay gap requires a great change in culture though - as mentioned in your linked post from 2009, one great difference is the time women take off to have children, and then the sacrifices they make (not working as much overtime etc.) while they have children too. We'll need it to become possible for men to take maternity leave, and much more socially acceptable for men to take time off work, stay at home etc. etc. before the pay gap ever closes. <br /><br />I look forward to the day it happens, but it's going to take a while!ChundaMarsnoreply@blogger.com