Gender inequality in Australia

In Australia, gender inequality denotes the inconsistencies between individuals due to gender. The topic covers a variety of concerns from health to equal opportunity in terms of employment and wages.

Contents

Legislation

In response to the concerns, the Australian government have implemented various legislation such as the Sex Discrimination Act 1984. The legislation covers the issues of discrimination in education, partnerships, marital status, sexual harassment and potential pregnancy.

The Australian government has also formed an agency, the EOWA to deal with such matters.

Sociological analysis

Main article: Gender differences

From a sociological standpoint, a distinction is made between sex and gender, where it is argued that gender is the product of social discourse.

The question of whether these trends are the result of personal decisions or the product of social pressure, is highly contentious.

Issues

Employment

Main article: Gender pay gap in Australia

Australia has a persistent gender pay gap. Between 1990 and 2009, the gender pay gap remained within a narrow range of between 15 and 17 %.[1] In August 2010, the Australian gender pay gap was 16.9%.[2]

Studies show that between 60 to 90 % of the Australian gender pay gap cannot be explained by differences in individual or workplace characteristics between women and men and that discrimination plays an important role in the gender pay gap.[1][3]

Studies that examine the gender pay gap across the entire wage distribution find that the gender pay gap is much greater among high wage earners than among low wage earners even after controlling for various individual and workplace related factors. These results indicate that a glass ceiling may be found in the Australian labor market.[4][5]

Gender and health

Differences in health is illustrated through the data retrieved from the ABS, where it gap between men and women in terms of life expectancy. In 1998, the life expectancy of men was 75.9 compared to 81.5 for women.[6]

Education

The inequality in the context of education, has greater implications in terms of future employment. Elements of the school curriculum still advocate certain gender specific practices

Sexuality

Main article: LGBT rights in Australia

Denotes the wider concerns regarding the recognition of LGBT rights.

References

  1. ^ a b National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling. The impact of a sustained gender wage gap on the economy. Report to the Office for Women, Department of Families, Community Services, Housing and Indigenous Affairs, 2009, p. v-vi.
  2. ^ Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency. Pay Equity Statistics. Australian Government, 2010.
  3. ^ Watson, Ian (2010). Decomposing the Gender Pay Gap in the Australian Managerial Labour Market. Australian Journal of Labour Economics, Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 49-79.
  4. ^ Miller, Paul W. (2005). The Role of Gender among Low-Paid and High-Paid Workers. Australian Economic Review, Vol. 38, No. 4, pp. 405-417, quote p. 413-414.
  5. ^ Kee, Hiao Joo (2006). Glass Ceiling or Sticky Floor? Exploring the Australian Gender Pay Gap. The Economic Record, Vol. 82, No. 259, pp. 408-427.
  6. ^ Greig, Lewins, White, “Inequality in Australia”, p.60. Cambridge University Press, 2003.

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