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.

Money, power...adultery? (Canada)

By Marina Adshade  | September 08, 2011

The standup comic Chris Rock famously said that a man is only as faithful as his options. Despite media portrayals to the contrary, a higher income doesn’t increase the likelihood of a man’s infidelity; men rich and poor cheat on their wives. Instead, the evidence suggests, that what really predicts infidelity isn’t money, but power. And if that’s not a completely new revelation, you might be surprised to learn that powerful women are just as likely to be unfaithful as powerful men.

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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.

Feminist Myths and Magic Medicine (Catherine Hakim)

Equal opportunity policies, in regards to women’s access to the labour market in the UK, have been successful. Despite this, many politicians and feminists appear disappointed with the slow pace of change in women’s attainment of top jobs. Sex differences are treated as self- evident proof of widespread sex discrimination and sex-role stereotyping rather than the result of personal choices and preferences. Thus, calls to smash the glass ceiling, to eliminate the pay gap and to end sex differentials are regularly heard in Parliament and from supranational organisations, academia and the media. But these demands for further change rest on faulty assumptions and outdated or partial evidence. For the latest academic research and cross-national comparative studies show that most of the theories and ideas built up around gender equality in the last few decades are wrong. Despite feminist claims, the truth is that most men and women have different career aspirations and priorities. Men and women often have different life-goals and policy makers should therefore not expect the same job outcomes.

Nancy Grace on female teacher "seduction" of male student (USA - YouTube)

This CNN news story shows an important shift in attitudes in at least one segment of the media which is explicitly pointing out the double standard of America's legal system and media regarding older females having sex with underage males v. older males having sex with underage females.