ABS Releases Gender Indicators and Ignores Male Disadvantage

Today the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Australia's so-called impartial statistical body released its Gender Indicators report: "a summary of gender specific data in six domains representing Economic security, Education, Health, Work and family balance, Safety and justice, and Democracy, governance and citizenship".

The ABS produced a media release about the publication. This release could have noted that:

• Across the board males fare much worse than females in the education system - most notably being 24% less likely to be enrolled in a bachelor degree or above
• Across the board males fare much worse than females in the health arena - most notably suffering death rates from cancer, heart disease, suicide, motor vehicle accidents and drug abuse between 1.6 and 3.4 times higher
• Males are 12% more likely than females to feel their work and family responsibilities are rarely/ never in balance
• Males are almost twice as likely as females to have experienced violence during the last 12 months and one third more likely to be a victim of physical or threatened physical assault.

However, these facts were conveniently ignored in favour of a media release titled "Busy mums want more paid work," citing the rate of underemployment being twice as high for women (8%) than for men (4%). Sadly it seems that the lace curtain extends all the way into our country's top statistical body.

Sex discrimination at London School of Economics (UK)

Tom Martin is making headlines around the world for bringing a £50,000 sex discrimination lawsuit against the prestigious London School of Economics (LSE), claiming its gender studies Masters programme he enrolled on consistently promotes biassed, female victim-hood stories, blaming men, in order to justify ignoring male equality debates like those brought by the fathers' rights movement.

Tom discusses his case on A Voice for Men radio, and appears in an explosive new youtube video, asking LSE students if discrimination against men in a gender studies course is ever justifiable, as the university's defence team now argue. Some LSE students are immediately hostile on camera, one declaring “There's no discrimination against men!” - her outburst juxtaposed by a fast-scrolling 160 item A to Z list of discrimination issues faced by males. Other students agree with Tom's complaint, one quietly admitting “I've been here for three years and never heard or read of a study about equal rights or equal opportunities for men, so definitely, there's a case there.”

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Kids to be denied their Fathers, because of ONE Man’s vote – Tony Windsor

Please read the following letter that was sent to Tony Windsor, Federal Member for New England, on the proposed 2011 child custody/family law changes currently before Parliament, designed to prevent most separated fathers from having contact with their children. The office of Tony Windsor has made it clear to me that they do not care to respond to the serious issues confronting separated fathers and children of separated families, despite being given ample opportunity to do so in response to this letter, and in previous discussions.

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Man gets equal blog (UK)

I have long believed that men and boys need a national champion to advocate for their needs and shine a light on the inequalities that they experience. Why? Because if you really care about equality – whatever that means to you personally – then surely you will want to know where inequality exists and be reassured that something is being done to tackle that inequality. Yet over the years of working with various issues relating to men and boys I have found time and time again that the many inequalities that men and boys experience – in health, education, housing, criminal justice, social justice and so – are all too often hidden, denied or simply ignored – often by the very people who claim to be the champions of equality. Which is why I believe men and boys need their own distinct and positive voice, highlighting the inequalities the experience and the solutions that would help tackle those inequalities and make the world a much better place for every man, woman, girl and boy.

Gail Kelly, Westpac CEO, busts the pay gap myth [YouTube]

On ABC TV's Q & A program on 7th March 2011, Mark Pannowitz, a Westpac employee, asked the following question of his CEO Gail Kelly. "Currently there is a 27 per cent pay difference between males and females in the finance sector. How is Westpac, planning to address this issue?". Gail's response - that despite equal pay for equal work being completely entrenched at Wespac, there is still a gender pay gap - shows that the pay gap is caused by the work/life choices of male and female employees, not any mythical male conspiracy to pay women less for the same work.

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