‘Male monopoly in N.Z.’

Press, 2 June 1981, Page 7

‘Male monopoly in N.Z.’

PA Wellington Only, one out of every 100 top positions — excluding the traditional female areas of nursing and teaching — is filled by women, says the member of Parliament for Lyttelton, Mrs Anne Hercus. Mrs Hercus told the Conference of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs at Nelson that New Zealand had only four women members of Parliament and that only two out of every 10 appointments to statutory boards and tribunals were women, with a similar position at city council and regional level.

‘ There is . still a male monopoly of decision-making in New Zealand rather than real equality,” she said. In spite of an increasing number of women in the work-force, the number of women holding top jobs in business and professions and in the Public Service had barely increased in the last decade. Mrs Hercus said there was not much: point in blaming anyone foe that situation. Women should use their energy finding how to change the situation. Many of the remaining barriers to women reaching

'the top were in the mind, rather than in the law, she said. The myths about women being bad managers because they were unambitious, over-emotional, or left to have babies, was still abroad. Mrs Hercus urged the conference to help people understand that to label any group with myths was to be prejudiced and discriminatory. “Full equality will only be achieved in New Zealand when people are considered on the basis of their qualities of mind, spirit, and judgment.”