President Janet - Sept 26
Tena koutou katoa
19th September each year we celebrate Suffrage Day – women finally gained their right to vote.
It was a marathon not a sprint that got the women of New Zealand over the many hurdles they faced in the society of that time, to be supported by the male Members of Parliament who chose to vote yes to the bill allowing women their rights.
Kate Sheppard, Meri Te Tai Mangakahia and other pioneers and feminists in the late 1800s would be proud of how far women have come since then, however the statistics show that the world is still 171 years away from gender equality. We cannot afford to go backwards, and it feels like two steps forward and three steps back at present. Yes, the pay gap has decreased over the decades, more women have Bachelor degrees than men (in the latest stats) and many women are excelling in traditional male roles – however, there remains gender-based violence, workplace harassment, unpaid care (most care givers are women in child care, elder care, medical care in the home). And women leave careers or reduce hours of paid work to put family care first. That leads to consequences like being passed over for promotions, pay rises, and reduced savings for retirement.
Equal Pay has long been a priority for BPW. Our strength lies in connecting women’s voices with concrete action. We are still relevant! Transparent and fair practices in pay and career progression need support and action. BPW NZ is a partner of the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) The latest action from the WEPs committee is a series of three webinars – the 2nd one quoted: “As organisations navigate workforce change, leadership succession, skills shortages and increasing expectations around diversity and inclusion, creating environments where women can thrive has become more than an equity issue, it is a strategic advantage.” The Seven Women’s Empowerment Principles are a practical framework for organisational change – moving from understanding, through leadership and reflection, to action.
Join me for Part Three | From Reflection to Action Wednesday 21 October | 12.00pm – 1.30pm: to register FREE for BPW NZ member under partner section via www.events.humanitix.com – search online events keyword: ‘WEPs’
I leave you with acknowledging Gloria Steinem and Dolly Parton – both strong women who died recently. See attached link.
Ngā mihi nui
President Janet
027 475 3397
