Women's safety is everyones issue!

Like many of you, I woke up to the news on Tuesday the 30th of March that another woman had been killed, her 18 year old daughter injured and her husband in custody.

Did you know that as of Jan this year we are losing 2 women a week to domestic violence?

Did you know that domestic violence is the key cause of homelessness for women and children? Many women however don’t leave due to fear and the inability to support themselves. 1 in 4 children bear witness to violence against their mothers and are often hurt simply trying to protect them.

Many of the women killed this year had DOV’s  against their husbands/partners and just as many were young innocent victims.

These women are our mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, girlfriends, friends and colleagues and they all deserve to live in safety, free from violence and abuse. 

On Friday the 8th of May, join me in the “Harcourts Walk a Mile in their shoes” and help raise awareness on the issue of domestic violence. Join the walk

We have partnered with White Ribbon and all funds raised will be donated towards their school’s program. If we can influence the next generation to make a different choice and understand that violence is simply not OK then we will have a long term impact on this issue.

This year we have Rosie Batty – 2015 Australian of the Year – who sadly lost her son Luke last year as our ambassador and walking with us on the day.

If you are unable to walk and would like to donate please click on this link.  Donate here

If you have items we can auction off at events to help raise money please email or contact me directly on 0403 271 676

This is no longer an issue any of us can ignore, when we are losing 2 women a week we are at crisis point, it is time to make women’s safety everyone’s issue. The more voices we have, the more likely we are to make a difference.

Join me and together let’s give voice to the women who no longer have one and make a statement that violence is simply not OK.

Not There!

 

Faces of women were erased from billboards and websites around the United States as part of an awareness campaign for International Woman's Day.

 

The campaign was called "not there" and was led by Hilary Clinton, Chelsea Clinton and Melinda Gates.

 

It was a simple concept, very clever and dramatic. Where you would normally see the picture of a model or an actor you saw nothing. It was a very powerful way to visually display the issue of gender equality and generate discussion.

 

It was also a great way to remind all of us that even though we have made great gains, which must be celebrated, we still have a long way to go.

 

In Australia we still have many issues to resolve, the pay gap, domestic violence, homelessness, less superannuation for women, reliance on government assistance upon retirement, lack of buying power across sectors such as real estate, bank loans, rental properties and the list goes on.

 

I constantly ask the question whenever I am asked to speak on this topic, if we are not equal than what are we?

 

Given the level of discussion being had across the globe why is that the issue of equality is not part of an ongoing global agenda?

 

The United Nations is now pushing for gender equality by 2030, that is only 15 years away.

 

Wow do we have some work to do and quickly.

 

As women thrive, so will humanity but if girls are held back, the whole world will feel the pain, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned the high-level opening of the United Nations body tasked with the promotion of gender quality and the empowerment of women.

 

In her UN speech, Hilary Clinton said that the issue of gender equality will remain the greatest unfinished business of the 21st Century.

 

IWD is an interesting day, it is a day of celebration of that there is no doubt, however are we disengaging men in the process? How many male global leaders came out on that day and made affirmative statements on what they were going to do to tackle the issue of inequality?

 

Frankly as a woman, who has experienced the many issues of inequality, I am over the speeches, what I am interested in is what are the key steps global leaders and businesses taking to meet the UN call of equality by 2030?

 

How are we engaging men, how are business ensuring a more balanced environment, how are ASX companies engaging more women on their boards, how are CEO's changing the mindset's and cultures of their organisations, how are governments working with groups and businesses?

 

I want to know, globally, which countries and businesses have gained headway into this issue, what did they do, what were the results, how can we duplicate initiatives into our businesses rather then re-invent.

 

How are we, at family level, ensuring that the next generation, our sons and daughters, understand the issues we are facing, the gains we are making, the legacy we are leaving them and the role they play from their teenage years onwards around this issue.

 

We have a lot of work to do over the next 15 years and if we are truly going to make a difference then everyone needs to be involved. Each one of us needs to start a ripple, leaving it to the next generation, acceptance, making statements such as "its not so bad" is no longer acceptable.

 

Male leaders, CEO's, Directors, fathers, husbands, brothers, friends must start to empower women in their lives for change to occur.

 

I am excited that we have leaders focused on deadlines, I am excited because I know what happens when we set deadlines, we may not meet it to a 100%, but we will get gains towards it. And any gain is better than none at all.

 

Lets hope that the "not there" campaign in 15 years, becomes part of history, where we remember a time where we fought the good fight and won and our children, grand children and future generations simply learn about inequality as part of their history lessons and never have to experience it.

 

 

 



International Women’s Day 2015 - #Makeithappen

On March 8th we celebrate International Women's Day. A day that is now set aside globally to celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women, past and present.

This day is about our mothers, sisters, wives, daughters, friends and girlfriends.

20 years ago women who celebrated this day perhaps had a very different vision or hope in mind as to where we would be on this issue of equality.

I am the same. My desire is to ensure that the legacy I leave behind my daughter and son is radically different to where we are today.

As we near closer to the 8^th of March, IWD is indeed a day that should be celebrated. Our gains have been many however there is still a long way to go.

I believe it is time for us in Australia to consider how we overcome some of the following issues:

·       The gender pay gap in Australia is 18.2%, the highest it has ever been. In WA however-the boom state- with the highest cost of living, the gap sits at 26.4%.

One of the reasons for the pay gap is that women are more likely to work in industries that pay less such as healthcare, education, human resources, administration, food services, retail and hotels. Conversely men dominate industries such as mining, finance and engineering which have traditionally been better paid.

There are also more women in part time work, they job share or are taking a career breaks.

Let’s not forget those women who choose to stay at home and are responsible for “unpaid” work.

And there is of course the ongoing issue of many working women carrying majority of the household burden.

Although there are many companies who have lead the way on this issue, including representation of women at leadership levels and on boards, we still have a long way to go.

• One of the consequences of the pay gap is that women are retiring on 1/3 less superannuation than their male counterparts (Human Rights Commission).  A recent study by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows women over 55 are increasingly seeking homelessness assistance.

A woman born after 1966 aged 45-49 has an average superannuation of $60,618 vs $102,358 for a male. 

 

40% of women who retire claim their main source of income as the government pension and they make up 55.7% of the age pension recipients (ABS).  

Regardless of gender, neither amount is enough to retire with now that we live longer.

• Given the rate of divorce in Australia there are more women who head up single parent families. Many of these women’s lack of earning capacity has an impact on areas such as housing affordability. They are being priced out of the property market regardless of whether they are buying or renting.

Banks see them as high risk and they often don’t get the level of lending they require and sadly many will often be screened out as appropriate tenants in favour of higher paying applicants.

The 2011 census indicates that there are 600,828 single women over the age of 45 on medium to low incomes who do not own their own homes. There are 373,794 men in the same situation. As these women retire they will struggle to pay rent as the cost of living and utilities continues to rise.

• Over the last 10 years, every single market in Australia has seen significant price increases impacting the lowest income earners, in particular women. This increases the risk of homelessness and housing stress. Affordable and accessible housing is critical and we need to find a way to supply affordable homes without reverting to the fringes of Melbourne, away from jobs and adequate transport.

Public housing is not always the answer, as this is also under stress with over 200,000 on waiting lists across the country.

·       Domestic violence is the main cause of homelessness for women and children in Australia (White Ribbon). In 2015, two women a week have been killed, up 100% from previous years.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, in 2013 32% of all clients receiving assistance from homelessness agencies were escaping domestic and family violence. 63% were women and 19% were children under the age of 10.

Often women will make the choice to stay in unsafe relationships as leaving will result in potential homelessness.

A national survey of 409 leading Australian business (Telstra Business Awards Alumni) women has found stopping domestic violence against women is the top priority for women in Australia in 2015. (Survey conducted by Telstra)

So by 2020 we potentially will see an:

·       Increase in the dwelling gap of affordable housing (supply and demand vs income)

·       Increase in homelessness in which older women and women with children will be over-represented

·       Increased stress on public housing

Equality is not just about the pay gap, however the issue of pay gap has reverberating consequences.

I am a woman born in 1966 and fortunately, retirement for me does not look like living of a government pension. However I am a single parent and I constantly am seeking ways to secure long term financial security that my male counterparts don’t truly seem to understand. Housing affordability is an issue when I have commitments to my children’s education and wellbeing.

I am however in no way marginalised and I have a strong voice and opinions with skill sets that I can carry across industries.

The theme for IWD 2015 is “make it happen”.  

·       What will it take for leaders around the globe to unite to “make it happen”?

·       What will it take for CEO’s around the globe to unite to “make it happen”?

·       What will it take for leadership teams around the globe to unite to “make it happen”?

Because if we don’t unite now than when will we? And if we not equal then what are we?

The ongoing impact on women, in particular, demands that this occurs or we will continue to see women and their children marginalised. 

How will I “make it happen”? 

I believe that to truly change this paradigm, women need to engage men and invite them to join us.

We need to work with men who empathise with the issue and are prepared to stand shoulder to shoulder with us and influence others. We need to find male sponsors in our work places.

I will #makeithappen by continuing this conversation, on line, off line, with family, with friends, work colleagues both male and female.

Revolutions start as a ripple, start your ripple today and affect change that will have an impact.

Let’s not leave this issue of inequality as unfinished business in our lifetime.

 

Repeal of carbon tax is PMs key achievement. - really Mr Abbott where would women be without you!!

Really Mr Prime Minister.

Naming the carbon tax as your biggest achievement for women in 2014 because you think we are so focused on the household budget shows how out of touch you are. 

The two issues, carbon tax and achievement for women, are so far apart Mr Abbott that you could sail the Titanic through it. 

Lets look at issues you could have tackled that would have been seen as achievements. 

The gender pay gap in Australia is at its highest at 18.2%. Perhaps working with business leaders - male and female to reduce this would have been seen as an achievement. 

Women retire on less superannuation than their male counterparts. Perhaps focusing on the gender pay gap and paid parental leave would change this. 

Oh and lets look at the issue of paid parental leave. This is now unlikely to pass the senate. To bring women back into the workforce perhaps look at making  childcare more affordable through tax rebates. 

More women today go to university however it takes us longer to pay back hec's fees as we leave to have yes you guessed it - babies. And until men start having babies i cant see this issue resolving itself. 

One woman a week dies in Australia killed by a partner. Domestic violence is on the increase. Sexual assaults are on the increase. Violence against women is the biggest cause of homelessness for women and children. 

We still lag when it comes to women being represented at board level and in government. 

There are only 2 women on the front bench yet 30% of Mr Abbott's government is women. 

Oh wait he has just doubled the number of women on the front bench - from 1 to 2!!

In fact if we are so occupied with budgets why not appoint a female treasurer.

We are 80 years away from gender equality, what an opportunity to lead the change that needs to occur. A male Prime Minister leading the charge on the issue of gender equality, setting the agenda, leading the discussions, influencing male CEO's and Directors and walking the talk!

As a women, I am focused on the issues above as well as my household budget, however my household budget does not define me, gender equality does.
 

At this rate Mr Abbott you will lose the female vote and only have one term in Government. 

  

Just as an FYI  I am yet to see any cost reduction in my bills.

Coca Cola in HOT MILK !

Yes you did hear right, Coca Cola has ventured into the diary market and has launched their new milk product called Fairlife; which by the way won’t be in Australia anytime soon.

I don’t know about you but the thought of Coca Cola producing milk just doesn’t fit for me, a thought I find quiet scary actually.  


Does that mean that kids will drink more milk simply because it is made by Coca Cola?

However let’s put this unusual concept aside, I was intrigued by the criticism that Coca Cola came under due to their marketing and advertising campaign.

Many have taken to social media and slammed their advertising campaign as sexist and degrading to women.

It was an interesting angle for Coca Cola to take given the global discussions being had about gender equality.

There is no doubt the ads are very clever, memorable, it has got people talking and most importantly the women are not naked. However it doesn’t take much to imagine them naked. Some of the pictures, such as the woman ironing and standing on a scale are unnecessary however on the whole the girls in the ads look stunning, sexy and gorgeous. And all for MILK!

I remember the Got Milk? ad where the women has a glass of milk in her hand and white substance on her lip, that was suggestive and provocative.

Interestingly they also used men with the same concept.

Personally I think they should have had a mix of male and female models, buffed up men with milk tastefully draped around their crown jewels would have been perfect.

For far too long, women have been sexualised in advertising products and if marketing companies are going to go down this path in a tasteful way then use both men and women.

There is no doubt Coca  Cola is an iconic brand, their foray into the milk market will perhaps increase the consumption of milk in the USA where the product is set to launch next month. It will cost you twice as much to buy then regular milk but Coca Cola expects it to become popular.

My question to you is do you see these ads as sexist, are we being too sensitive or have we been desensitised as the reality is that there are a number of ads on the market that are far more sexist than this one.

Time votes to ban "Feminist"

 

Time magazine is running a poll as to which words should be banned and the word feminist appears on the list.

I had to read the list twice and slap myself to believe that they had actually put this word on there.

And perhaps what surprised me the most is over 45% of the readers had voted to do away with the word. Who are these people and what in god’s name are they thinking.

At a time when the debate is rich and engaging at a global level, we have a well-respected magazine place it on a “ban” list.  

Why is the word “boys club” not on the list!

We are in an era, I believe, where the word feminist is no longer seen as a dirty word, feminism is seen as a movement, a demand for equality.

Because if we are not equal than what are we?

We are not bra burning, male hating monsters. We are level headed, smart, entrepreneurs who simply want equal representation at leadership levels, equal pay; not be among the world’s poorest, or refugees or be the victims of domestic and sexual violence.

We believe in and demand social, political and economic equality. And what may I ask is wrong with that?

For a moment let’s imagine if we did do away with the word. How would we describe ourselves then?

For a long time so many were afraid to be labelled feminists, I was one of them, not anymore, as more and more men and women join this movement it becomes richer and stronger and it starts to create a ripple effect, a revolution that will inspire and demand change.

We cannot be feminists quietly, by ourselves, in our own time, the movement requires men to join us to ensure that we have significant impact and influence.  

I grew up in an environment where girls were not encouraged to be themselves, were spectators rather than participants, their ambitions were denied, their aspirations were only around marriage, yet the men were the opposite.  And in many places in the world this culture still exists.

In Australia the debate is rich around the gender pay gap, which is currently at its highest, women in senior leadership positions, on boards and of course whether we legislate on quotas and targets.

So for Time magazine to put this word on a list of potential words to be banned is sadly a reflection of where we stand globally on this debate of equality.

The disappearance of this word would mean that we ignore, forget and deny generations of good men and women who have fought for us to have the right to vote, the right to work and now we fight for gender equality.

I would prefer to ban words such as “paygap”, “inequality”,” housewife”, “sexism”, “sexual harassment”

At a time when this is a global debate, why is gender equality not on the G20 agenda?

Our Prime Minister could easily lead this discussion and it is one that is worthy of a discussion at this level. However Mr Abbott has not been proactive on this issue. Women in Australia will retire on 40% less superannuation then men, they will pay more interest in their university loans then men simply because they will have children.

It will be 2089 before we achieve equal pay globally. That is 75 years and almost 3 generations away. We cannot let this happen, this is not the legacy I want to leave my children.

We all know that the issue of gender equality is not just a fight or an issue for women.

Yet the answer to the issues lies in the hands of our leaders. Our male leaders. Who if any of them will have the courage to actually start the ripple?

Ripple Affect

It is common for women to ask men to " put themselves in women’s shoes and consider how it would feel to be a woman." We hope that by asking men to do this they will have some empathy towards us. 

To date, I don't believe, that this has worked very well. Men don't seem to be able to put themselves in our shoes.

Maybe we need to ask a different question because men are certainly not “feeling” what we do.

Perhaps the question needs to be “how would your life be different if you were born a woman”?

This question gets men to actually consider the ‘biases’ against women and how they would react to them if they were against them.

To help our male counterparts understand what it would be like to have been born a woman here
 are few thought starters:

In many countries being born a woman does not equate to the celebration of a new life, it equates to being a burden on the family which may result in your death as an infant, if you are kept alive then education may not be your privilege, becoming a child bride may be or worse being sold into slavery. Your male family members will often decide your fate and if you choose to defy these it may result in your death.

You may be one of the 70% of women who make up the world’s poor, where you are a victim of systematic discrimination in education and healthcare, you may have never learnt to read and write, be the one in three that is a victim of abuse or forced into labour.

You would have had to fight for the right to vote and now that you have it, fight for equal pay and equal employment opportunities.

You may be the victim of violence, in Australia 1 woman a week dies from domestic violence and 1 in 3 have experienced violence of some sort.

You would have had to give up your career at some point to have your children and yes just imagine giving birth.

More often than not, the role of ensuring that the household is still functioning will be your responsibility. And yes your husband will potentially be coming home late most nights.

Every month you will of course have your periods, you will bloat, have tender breasts, feel grumpy, tear up and often be in pain.

Every two years you will have to have a pap smear.

Then at some point you will go through menopause.

You will retire on 40% less superannuation than your husband if you are in Australia

You will pay more interest for any loans you may have taken out to complete your university degree simply because you will choose to take a break and have kids

The common language you will hear is that you have to ask for what you want, lean in, learn how to do business like a man, letting go of the guilt.

In the workplace you may be described as bossy, bitchy, aggressive, and often be accused of sleeping your way to the top.

You will have to work harder in business to gain the promotions that your male counterparts currently get.

You will feel enormous guilt over just about everything.

Everything you wear will be commented on and judged, how you do your hair and your makeup, nails, shoes....the list will go on.

You will spend a lot of money getting most of your body waxed to ensure that you are virtually hairless for your partner as this seems to be the trend today

Oh and of course there is the whole weight issue. If you add on a few kilo’s your male partners in life and work will no doubt notice it and comment. Note also that the waist line of your male counterparts seems to grow in girth yearly

Now of all the above were not challenging enough lets add to the mix the following

o   Under representation in the media

o   No such thing as a cheap haircut

o   Under representation in politics

o   More likely to be harassed in public

o   At worse other women will not support your endeavours

So, if you were born a woman, some of the challenges you may face , depending on where you are born, will be around gender equality, gender pay gap, violence, poverty, hunger, homelessness, trafficking, under-representation at all levels.

Given all the above, how many men would choose to live the life of a woman.

Not many I would suggest. Who in their right mind would want to deal with these issues?

If the thought of being born a woman is not one that any man would want why is it that men are not championing the issues we face louder than women are, why are they not leading the charge more aggressively than woman are.

There are more men around board tables, directors and CEO’s of companies, surely the issue of gender equality should be an easy one to fix if these men truly understood what their life would be like if they had been born a woman!