‘Rational view’ on status of women

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33541, 23 May 1974, Page 3

‘Rational view’ on status of women

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 22. A declaration on the status and role of women in New Zealand should be drafted for adoption by Parliament, the National Advisory Council for the Employment of Women said today.

The council was ap-i pearing before the Parliamentary Select Committee on Women’s Rights. Its submissions were des-’ cribed by the Under-Secre-' tary of Labour (Mr Isbey) as l "possibly the most sane, rational and composed submissions to come before the! committee.” Its '-22 main recommend-' ations included: A call for educationists to take further steps to raise the vocational; aspirations of girls at all levels of the educational system. A suggestion that the council should seek the co-: operation of unions and employers in a cam-; paign to promote the more effective employ-: ment of women. The Government should adopt a policy of deliberate encouragement of equal opportunity for women in employment. Establishment, of a “human rights commission” to study cases of dis-1 crimination, to take! action, and Report toj Parliament. Action by the Labour: Department to encourage . older women to return to work. Financial assistance for

women returning to work and requiring vocational training. New. attitudes towards maternity leave, inc 1 u ding protection against dismissal and loss of seniority. Urgent attention to the need for child-care services. Research into the effect on young children of maternal employment. The council, formed in 1966, so far has mainly made recommendations to the Ministers of Labour, Education, Social Welfare and Finance. Its 80-page submission to the committee included a mass of detail on the numbers. of women in work, and the type of work they are doing. Social barriers The council said women today were moving into new occupations, some of them traditionally male occupations, but because social attitudes still applied it was normally only in response to a severe or chronic labour shortage that women were required. An exception was where women had the educational qualifications required by an occupation. Women were entering professions in increasing numbers but it remained to be seen whether sufficient women could do so to change the predominantly male image of professions! such as law, architecture,; accountancy, or medicine. The council said there was considerable discrimination against women in employment, especially relating to opportunity and promotion — the primary cause was that women had traditionally been accorded second-class status as employees, and i until recently most women had accepted”this view. ‘Narrow’ schooling Discussing education, the council said there Were clear distinctions that women left school earlier than males, achieved lower levels of attainment, and studied different subjects. However, these dis-' tinctions were narrowing, and there was a really I significant change now in. the numbers of girls taking; mathematics. But the council noted a’ fairly narrow range of: vocational courses for girls, : and said it viewed this with some concern. For the future, said . the, council, it was no longer: sufficient to rely on fort- i

uitous social and economic change. "A pomprehensive and positive programme of Government action lo enhance the status of women will be called for,” it said.

Jolt freedom A “national declaration on the status of women" should be drafted, to reflect that • women with family responsibilities should be free to •choose whether to take employment outside their homes, that women were entitled to equal pay and opportunity in employment, land that care •of children was a responsibility to he Ishared by - the mother and 'father as well as society. If these principles were used as the basis for a declaration, they would provide la theoretical framework for ithe much needed support on •the one hand for parenthood and the domestic role, and Jon the other for women's .•rights as individuals and (citizens. Family life The council said it hoped its recommendations on education and other matters would be seen as part of a I comprehensive policy to (support ~ family life" and (women at home caring for (children. Otherwise, the recom■mendations might be interipreted by many women as a threat to their way of .life (and as part of social pressures forcing them out to (work whether they wished to do so or not. The declaration would be only a starting point. Discrimination • The declaration could also 'spell out. Government plans, and it should recognise the. need for equality in such' aspects as marriage and pro-; perty, public life, and commercial transactions. Supporting its call for a human rights commission, the council said its task should be to combat wide discrimination against women. I !