Self-confidence among women increasing

Press, 23 May 1981, Page 10

Self-confidence among women increasing

A new . awareness • in women of their ability to fill important decision-making positions in the community is one' of. the most positive developments noticed by the outgoing president of the Christchurch branch of tTie National Council of Women (Mrs Margaret Cleland) in. her three years of office.

At the same timee, she has noticed a gradual awakening among men who were sensing women’s increasing selfconfidence. Some of the men were even starting to feel threatened at the emergence of women, Mrs Cleland said . recently. J \

Mrs Cleland is succeeded as president of the branch by. Mrs Mary McGiven, ftjom this week. Mrs McGiven represents the Association of Presbyterian Women on the N.C.W., and holds the position of. senior vice-president in that association. Mrs Cleland believes that the N.C.W. is a splendid training ground for women ■to take part in decisionmaking roles.

“But the capabilities of the association are not fully understood, nor fully utilised in the community,” she said. The most recent and vital way of generating more involvement among women in the. community with the association had - been ?' -the

greater use. of ad-hoc members on standing committees.

“To belong to the N.C.W., you have to be a member of a women’s group with at least 10 members,” Mrs Cleland explained. “But there are a tremendous number of women who don’t belong to women’s groups, but who would have a lot to offer our association.

; 4..-“Buy mutual agreement, a ’ number of such women have taken places on our standing committees, and have been able to add their expertise and experience.” The standing committees make recommendations to the branch, j'which tin turn recommends them to the national executive; which, in its turn, passes them on to the Government.

“The N.C.W. has the ear of the Government,” Mrs Cleland said. “The Government often asks the association for its opinion, and we make submissions on.all bills that affect women and children. We have a watch committee in Wellington that lets us know when such bills are coming before the House.” ' The Christchurch branch of the association has made a number, of submissions recently to the national executive, and these will be considered in. September.

The submissions include a recommendation that further investigation be carried out into the contraceptive depo provera, which is at present being used in New Zealand; a call for Government aid for women who have had to have a mastectomy and who then have to find a lot of money to buy a prosthesis; home help for the disabled, and a career structure for those women involved in home help to raise their status in the community; and various suggestions for promoting national pride.

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FELICITY PRICE