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Labour call for Discrimination and a question?
Read more about: Women's Rights
With the release today of the CSO details on gender in Ireland Labour used the opportunity to push out their policy of
Labour believes that state bodies and agencies should be required to achieve at least 40 per cent representation of each gender on their boards and governing bodies. We believe that statutory force should be given to that objective and that the social partners and other nominating bodies should be bound by the same target. Public funding for political parties should be tied to the level of participation by women as public representatives those parties achieve.
Looking at the figures there seems indeed to be something wrong.
Only 13% of TDs in Dáil Eireann are women, while they account for 34% of members of State Boards, 20% of members of local authorities and just 16% of members of regional authorities.
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After adjusting for differences in hours worked, women’s hourly earnings were around 86% of men’s.
However bad these figures are I have to disagree with Labour.
When ever the leaving cert results come out we always here tell that boys are doing worse then girls. But one thing we never hear about is that to combat this a certain quota of male students should be meet. Why? well I could go on a rant about discrimination against men but the reason is that people believe in Merit. If someone gets better marks they deserve the place about someone else. That the top 40 people in a 40 place course should get the course regardless of gender, that ability is the only criteria. So why then do we often hear the call for quotas in public life. Surely the same idea should apply that the best people should get ahead. Why should we think any differently.
What quotas are is that they suggest that women are inferior to men, they say that they can not compete on a level playing field with men. Is that what women want to be given special treatment? Do they really want people working for them instead of respecting them, saying they only got the job because what gender they are? I certainly do not think so, then again I am male.
The gender pay gap in Ireland is 9% of male earnings according to the CSO via eurostat. This is below the EU Average, 2nd in EU15 and better then all the so called Equal Scandinavian countries. So while there is a definite need for improvement the gap is not as great as many would probably guess it is. And if we are more equal then the do goody Swedes well that should be something to be proud of. They don’t have the figures in the report, but I would love to see is there a reduction of the wage gap in recent years. i.e is there less difference between 25-35 year olds then 50-60 year olds. That would show us if the celtic tiger has solved that problem for us.
One thing we are less equal to then our Scandinavian neighbours is political representation. The question is why do we have so few female TD’s. If you look at our female TD’s they are mainly high flying ministers or spokespersons. How many female backbenchers are there? Many people blame the political party system of being a boys club. But how many females stand as independents compared to males. Surely in the absence of a boys club it should be 50% women independents who decided to put there name forward and run? If not why not, surly the party system which has no hand in independents and as can be seen by party front benches are certainly willing to put women ini the front line are not the sole source of blame so why not a 50% running?
I would be interested to hear peoples thoughts on this what ever gender they are.
*slaps forehead*
1.On political representation the French system has significantly increased the number of female politicians. Party funding from the State is available on condition that a certain percentage of elected representatives (not candidates) are women. If the quota is not reached the funding is reduced. Bizzarely, all parties suddenly discovered that they had quality female candidates in winnable seats!
2. when you quote staistics on earn,ing syou must detail exactly what the figure are based on. I am certain that both the figures that you quote and those quoted by Labour are valid. They simply measure different things.
3. It is entirely legitimate for the State to fix a male/female quota on State boards, in the same way as there is a tradiiton of balancing apointments according to political party, religion, geographical provenance etc. I cannot understand why this has not been done.
4. Personally I believe that a mjor problem, rarely discussed, is the gender imbalance in certain professions. Some examples:
The lack of male primary school teachers is a disater for young boys.This is especially true as the number of one parent family increases (statistically predominantly mother only families) as the male teacher is an essential role model;
The predominace of women training as GPs may have long term consequences for primary care, especially in rural areas. It would seem that female GPs are reluctant to take on one doctor prctices in rural areas, work a 70/80 hour week etc. I suport better work/life balance, unfortunately our primary care system depends, at present, on a large number of work obsessed individuals who are prepared to sacrifice their families wellbeing for the sake of their patients.
There are many other examples.
Gordon
I am certain that both the figures that you quote and those quoted by Labour are valid.
The figures I quote or eurostat figures the only comparrison figures available they exclude people who work less then 15 hours which of course include many women hence the bigger difference.
Labours figure is the actually difference from CSO
But that would probably also the case in the rest of Europe so that their differences would probably would also increase.
Also you raise another question should state boards appointments care where your from or what your religon is?
Simon,
so you agree that both figures are correct - they just derive from different calculations. It should be noted that Ireland is not typical, in that relatively few women work, and a greater proportion that those that do, work part time.
Maybe State boards should not care about religion, but in a country that is massively (or at least was) there seems to have been a willingness to ensure that members of the Protestant comunity participated fully. Was this done deliberately, or merely unconciously?
Gordon
It should be noted that Ireland is not typical, in that relatively few women work, and a greater proportion that those that do, work part time.
Not really the EU average is 30% of women part time 7% of men.
http://www.management-issues.com/2006%2F8%2F24%2Fresearch%2Feurope-offers-women-a-raw-deal-at-work.asp
Which is probably not far off Ireland.
The Eu average for 15-65 years olds females working is 57% compared to Irelands 60% considering that we probably have more in the 15-25 age group then average and thus still in education we are a bit ok. and already meeting our 2010 Stockholm Council target.
Source CSO report above
At a time when the country is facing possible financial meltdown, it seems that a vote-catching debate - by the Labour Party mandarins - on gender problems - is inappropriate.
What is needed, both in & out of Government, is competent people - regardless of gender; creed; colour or political persuasion.
People with the ability to work hard, in a professional focussed manner, that adds value to their output in the open marketplace & the prosperity of the country.
Only then, when that added value has been achieved, should these dreamers pontificate about social inequalities etc…