A matter of respect
We all have a responsibility to ensure disrespectful attitudes and behaviours towards women are not learnt in childhood. By Fiona Martin.
For a society to be truly free, all must be offered an equal opportunity to succeed. It is not guaranteeing equal outcomes, but a fair starting position. Regardless of who you are or where you come from, what makes this country so great is everyone has an equal chance to succeed.
When we welcome the perspective of both men and women in any situation on any debate, society is richer for it.
In 1921, Edith Cowan was elected to the West Australian Legislative Assembly and became the first woman voted to any Parliament across the country. That was 100 years ago this month.
She was born into an age where women were not allowed to run for Parliament, or even vote. Since then, our country has benefitted from female leaders in and out of the Parliament, on all sides of the political spectrum.
Dame Enid Lyons, and Dorothy Tangey were the first women elected to the House of Representatives and the Senate. They went first and left a path, so that all those who wanted to follow, knew it was achievable. Throughout the country numerous state and federal seats are being filled with the ‘first female’ in the job. This hasn’t been achieved through quotas. But instead a belief by our Party and the country, that society is better served with a range of different perspectives and views within the Parliament.
Is our society perfect? Have we finished the job Cowan, Lyons, Tangey and many others started? No, we haven’t. But we have come a very long way.
Since the Coalition took government, more than 1.5 million more Australians were in jobs. 60% of these new jobs were taken up by women. At the beginning of last year, female workforce participation was at its highest ever level. The gender pay gap was also moving in the right direction, down to a record low of 13.9% from 17.4% under the previous Labor government.
Australian women made up the majority of those who lost their jobs early in this crisis. As the health restrictions have eased, these jobs have started to come back. Now more than half of these jobs created since May are being filled by women.
On Monday the 8th of March, citizens across the world recognised International Women’s Day. I was proud to welcome the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, and Minister for Women, Marise Payne to Concord NSW for a breakfast with female business leaders across my electorate.
As a former small businesswoman and clinician for over 15 years, I understand the day to day struggles of managing a business while also finding an appropriate work-life balance. Our mental and physical health benefits when parents can spend time with their families. Mums and dads also want the peace of mind to know that our children will be looked after while we work.
Resilience is key not only to our individual mental health but to the wellbeing of our society and our democracy. Our ability to recover from setbacks through flexibility and fortitude is necessary in federalism as much as it is necessary in our day-to-day lives. Good fiscal management is not in opposition to providing evidence-based health services and supports, but rather it is the means through which it can be achieved.
One of the biggest challenges our country faces in the 21st century is the mental and psychological wellbeing of our citizens. My professional career as a psychologist has infused me with a strong desire to see all Australians realise their full potential, develop resilience and better cope with life's many challenges.
This year, the International Women’s Day theme is, ‘Choose to Challenge’. Challenge stereotypes. Challenge bias. Challenge each other to do better.
On International Women’s Day, the Morrison Government launched the third phase of the national campaign called Stop it at the Start. Encouraging Australians to “unmute” themselves and empowering them to take actions that will have a positive influence on the attitudes and behaviours of young people. This is not hard. It is called respect.
“You play like a girl!” A seemingly harmless comment from the sideline of your kid’s football game, starts the cycle of inequality between boys and girls.
We all have a responsibility to ensure disrespectful attitudes and behaviours towards women are not learnt in childhood. Research has found the campaign has already been successful in changing attitudes, with 42 per cent of adults taking actions such as having a conversation with a young person about respectful relationships. Education is fundamental in this change. Effective school and family partnerships are necessary for children to develop, learn and thrive. It is our committed teachers and parents that make up our school communities and nurture our future leaders.
The 2020-2021 Budget includes the second Women’s Economic Security Statement, $240 million in measures and programs to specifically support:
New cadetships and apprenticeships for women in STEM;
Creating more jobs for women and promoting female entrepreneurialism, and vitally;
Securing women’s safety at home and at work.
Our strong representation of women in the Parliament, across senior levels of government, and the private sector is something for all Australians to be proud of. Over half of parliamentary representation in the Senate is now female.
It’s not about virtue signalling, it’s not about trying to be ‘woke’. We should all be proud of how far we have come. If for no other reason, than simply because it is right.
Have we finished the job? No, we have not. We still have further to go. However, when I reflect on 1921 and Edith Cowan’s historic election to Parliament, I am proud of how far we have come.
I believe she would be too.
Dr Fiona Martin MP is Federal Member for Reid.