Changing rights & freedoms WOMEN

Glossary terms  Affirmative action  Breadwinner  Discrimination  Feminist  No-fault divorce  Nuclear family  Piecework rates  Sex-role stereotyping  Vocation  Women’s liberation movement Glossary Handout

The achievements of the women’s movement in the post-WWII period Compare the role of women in WWII to that of women in the1950’s Identify the key issues at the heart of the movement Identify significant figures who provided inspiration

What messages are conveyed by the following advertisements about women’s role in society?

Roles and role models oWomen’s role in the 1950’s handout oMind map of women’s role in the 1950’s  Read pages text  Questions page 215 (all)

The role of the equal pay issue in the changing rights and freedoms of Australian women Outline the important developments in the equal pay issue relating to the changing rights and freedoms of women Describe the discrepancies between man and women’s wages Identify key people involved in the campaign Identify and explain the movement towards equal pay mentioning specific legislation Explain the significance of the equal pay issue relating to the changing rights and freedoms of women

The Equal Pay Issue In 1951 the United Nations, through the International Labour Organisation (ILO), recommended equal pay for equal work regardless of sex, race or religion. In 1941 the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) adopted a policy that payment should be determined by one’s job, not one’s gender. In 1949 the Commonwealth Arbitration Court fixed a woman’s basic wage at 75% of a man’s. By 1962 the ACTU decided to declare a National Equal Pay Week to put pressure on employers.

Equal Pay Case

By 1961 women made up 21%of the workforce in areas such as domestic service, teaching, nursing, secretarial work & low skill work Key issue – wage discrimination in favour of men Various decisions and policies to achieve equal pay for women (handout) – by late 1980’s women still struggling to achieve 85% of males wages in same type of work

By early 21 st century, the average weekly wage for women remains significantly less that average weekly wage for men – approx. 85% Some occupations earn more eg nurses 109% and some less eg. Medical practitioners 73% Only in part-time work were women receiving not only wages equal to men, but actually on average more than men.  Using sources Q1-3 page 217

Examine the experiences of women’s liberationists in the post-WWII period

Women’s liberation movement The 1960’s was a decade of protest Women’s Liberation Movement – the movement aimed at achieving recognition of women’s rights Helen Reddy’s “I am woman, hear me roar” became the theme for the movement. Helen Reddy Special Grammy Awards thanked God “because she makes everything possible”

1969 Zelda D’Aprano chained herself to the doors of the Commonwealth building in Melbourne to protest equal pay Follow the link Zelda D’Aprano read the information and write 2 paragraphs explaining her significance to the women’s liberationists movement Zelda D’Aprano

Hundred’s of groups formed focussing on –Choice to have children – could not advertise the contraceptive pill, abortion was illegal –Child care –Discrimination in areas of education, employment, employment conditions, banks & lending institutions for women obtaining finance –Divorce –Domestic violence –Family planning –Parental leave Feminist – a woman who believed in equal rights and opportunities for women beyond the traditional roles

To promote their liberation, women's groups pressured governments to change laws and create new legislation that would: Make discrimination on the basis of sex illegal Promote equal opportunity for women Provide protection of women’s rights International Women’s Day march Melbourne International Women’s Year Liberation marches & conferences  8 th March 1972 onwards International Women’s Day to raise awareness of the issues & show support for one another

The role of WEL The Women’s Electoral Lobby (WEL) was formed in 1972 –Opportunities for women in the workplace –The right to promotion –Published views on issues such as childcare and job discrimination One of the most effective groups in promotion of women’s rights.  Using Sources page 221

Equal Opportunity

By the 1980’s, governments and society were aware and generally accepting of women’s rights and issues. Various achievements may be noted: 1973, Elizabeth Reid appointed the first Women’s Advisor to the Prime Minister. Family Law Act 1975 (Cwlth) established the principle of no-fault divorce 1978 National Women’s Advisory Council established 1983 Office of the Status of Women created and appointed a women, Helen Williams, to a Commonwealth department Mary Gaudron the first woman appointment as a judge to the High Court of Australia Creating Equal Opportunity

Addressing discrimination The Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW) made it illegal to discriminate on sex and marital status, for example. This Act created the Anti-Discrimination Board to investigate and resolve complaints. Complaints that were unresolved would be passed to the Equal Opportunity Tribunal to make a ruling and award compensation the government ratified the international Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) 1979 ACTU succeeded in achieving 12 months unpaid maternity leave (federal awards & 1980 other awards).

Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cwlth) made it illegal to discriminate on the grounds of sex, marital status and pregnancy – meeting obligations to CEDAW. Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) created in 1984, investigates and attempts to resolve complaints Affirmative Action (Equal Opportunity for Women) Act 1986 (Cwlth) (replaced in 1999 by the Equal Opportunity in the Workplace Act) sought to improve equal opportunity for women in the workplace and promote affirmative action.

Sticky floors and glass ceilings  Read pages of your text Extension activity…

Examine the role of Germaine Greer in improving the rights and freedoms of women in Australia Describe the issue this person was involved in Describe the significance of this issue Outline this person’s role in this issue

Germaine Greer Germaine Greer was born in Melbourne in She went to a Catholic girls school and went on to Melbourne University. Greer was active on campus in promoting women’s rights and graduated in honours in English literature and French. She continued her academic career and obtained a PhD in literature from Cambridge University.

Greer continued to campaign for women's rights and in 1970 sold her book The Female Eunuch was published. It sold copies in Australia in two weeks and the following year it topped the best seller list in Britain and the USA. Click on the Germaine Greer read the information and write two paragraphs focussing on the significance of Germaine Greer in improving the rights and freedoms on women in AustraliaGermaine Greer