You can do better.....at least 21% better.

The 8th March is International Women's Day. This is a day that is observed around the world to celebrate, reflect and advocate for the social, economic, political and cultural achievements of women. 

While there has been progress over the years, thanks to movements like the Suffragettes, there is still a long way to go. All women know that there inequality exists today, but do men? Recently I had a conversation with that really concerned me....

Dave* informed me that he felt that International Women's Day was discriminatory because there is no 'International Men's Day.' I tried to education him on his sheer ignorance, yet I failed. As a white, fully able-bodied male, Dave had zero insight into the reality of what discrimination really is - let alone that it still exists and that even his mother, sisters, aunties, girlfriend will all have experienced it. It is a fact.

The 2017 gender pay gap report found that in Australia, today, men still out-earn women in every industry and across all occupations. On average women get paid 21% less than men. This leaves women disadvantaged in a many ways. 

If you couple the lower earning capacity of women, with taking time out of their careers to bring up young children, then it is not surprising that by the time retirement rolls around women, on average, have 40% less superannuation than their male counterparts. The fact that women have a longer life expectancy than men but have 40% less to live off makes it unsurprising that older women are now the group most at risk of homelessness.

So to summarize - women in Australia today can expect a lower salary than men. Time out sowing into the next generation compounds this resulting in significantly less superannuation for retirement and as their children fly the nest and husbands pass away they are likely to be facing homelessness! 

How is that okay?!

This International Women's Day I hope that men across Australia wake up to the real issues that their sisters, mothers, aunties, wives and friends are facing and take positive action to eliminate discrimination once and for all. 

Emma Watson said at a UN conference that, "gender equality is your issue too."

It is essential that men are empowered to ensure equality for their female colleagues in the workplace. This is crucial because, in Australia, the majority of CEO's (85%) are male and 70% of key management personnel are male and therefore it is these men who are making the majority of hiring decisions including salary. I think they can do better - at least 21% better - and that is just the start.

*name changed.