News

March 8th is International Women’s Day (IWD). Today we celebrate the gains made towards gender equality and recognise the strong women who continue to fight for changes.

This year’s IWD theme is Break the Bias. Some people believe men and women are equal these days and discrimination and bias against women are a thing of the past. Unfortunately, there is still a long way to go. In WA there are many examples of bias. For example, women perform around 75% of all unpaid work, including caring for children and others, housework and volunteering.[i]^[ii] WA’s gender pay gap is 21.9% compared with 14.2% across Australia^[iii].  

Perhaps the starkest indication of inequality and gender bias is that women are overwhelmingly the victims of all types of family, domestic and sexual violence^[iv].

Over the past year, we have seen a number of brave women speak out and highlight the blatant inequities many women and girls are still facing in Australia.

Claims of bullying and sexist attitudes in the national Parliament have shone a light on the institutions and culture of Australian politics.  Women in politics continue to be subject to discrimination and bias.

In Geraldton, the Local Community Attitudes and Experiences of Violence Survey (LCAEVS), which was conducted in the City of Greater Geraldton in late 2019 found that 92% of Geraldton community believe that political leadership does not depend on gender, and that both men and women can be capable leaders.

But when we look a little closer at the LCAEVS results there are significant differences between the opinions of men and women.  Over 14% of men agreed that men make better leaders than women but only 1.5% of women agreed. So while Geraldton is relatively progressive about women’s leadership, around 14% of the Geraldton men who completed the survey are clinging to outdated stereotypes that value men’s leadership over women’s.

That is a relatively small percentage and confidence in women’s leadership is evident in the Midwest. There is strong female representation at all levels of Government and in the community. But do those outdated sexist attitudes and stereotypes affect women in leadership positions?

We asked women representatives in State and Local Government about their experiences of discrimination and bias.

Councillor Tarleah Thomas, who has been a member of Council for over 10 years, believes the Council is a respectful place. She has not experienced discrimination as a woman in Council or in other work roles. Cr Natasha Colliver spoke more generally of her professional experiences, saying at times it had been “a struggle to be heard, to be taken seriously, and to feel as valued as my male counterparts.” (see her Opinion Piece in today’s GG).

At the State level, our politicians also recount different experiences. Lara Dalton, the first woman to represent the seat of Geraldton, says that her experience in leadership positions has also been relatively free of bias. She acknowledges that she has been fortunate to come into a Parliament where 51% of the Caucus are women, the result of affirmative action by the ALP since 1994.

“Out-of-date stereotypes regarding a ‘woman’s place’ are not at all appropriate and will not be tolerated. The culture I am lucky to be surrounded by is one of support and comradeship.”

Having said that, Ms Dalton adds that Australia has a long way to go in closing the gender gap in political empowerment, economic participation and opportunity, and health. “Our leaders, our communities, and our people must recognise the disparities and take action to close the gender gap at local, State and National levels.”

Sandra Carr, Member for the Agricultural Region, reports a different parliamentary experience in the Legislative Council (or Upper House).

“The entire culture of parliament is very ‘male’, the hours, the language, even the chairs in the Chamber are better suited to the male physique and a number of my female colleagues struggle to reach their feet to the floor.

“In terms of the everyday work I perform as a Member of Parliament, the bias is subtle, but it is there. For example, if I am in a meeting and there is a male counterpart on the room, those I am meeting with will largely address their discussion to the man in the room. This is a common observation among women politicians.

“The statistics, anecdotes and indeed allegations, reveal in no uncertain terms that women have historically been subjected to bias and discrimination that has largely excluded, limited and even harmed them.

“We only need to look to the treatment of former Prime Minister Julia Gillard to see a woman’s gender will be used against her, and there is gender discrimination at all levels of government.

“At times I get angry, but by and large I feel more determined. I made an undertaking in my Inaugural Speech to call out sexism early and I intend to keep my word on this.”

Ms Carr comments that it is not only men who have discriminatory attitudes.

“People of all genders can be significantly harder on women. They often expect more from women, and are less tolerant of the full range of their character. Women can be reprimanded for behaviour that might be celebrated in a man. I find that very challenging to accept and work very hard both to challenge that and not to hold women to a less tolerant and more restricting standard.”

What advice do these leaders have for young women considering local or State politics?

Cr Thomas says: “Just have the courage to do it!  My fellow councillors and I would love to mentor anyone entering local government.”

Lara Dalton advises young women to march to their own drum. “The world is your oyster, make your own choices and follow your own path.”

Sandra Carr reflects: “I had the benefit of many great women who came before me and that is a blessing. It is my duty to honour their efforts by continuing that journey forward and stretching my hand out to the next woman and helping her up too.”

She quotes Eleanor Roosevelt: “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you stop to look fear in the face … You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”