Recently I wrote about the changing roles of parents and how we have desexed the roles, with stay-at-home dads as common as working mums.
That’s a good thing. We no longer have ‘women’s work’ and ‘dad’s chores’.
Why then did our Premier decide that he would make it compulsory for half the judges and magistrates in Victoria to be women, and for half the appointments to state-paid boards to be female as well.
If I was a woman I would be insulted to think that the reason I got appointed was because of my gender, not my qualifications and experience. That’s an opinion shared by many females I have spoken to about this subject.
What happened to “the best person for the job gets the job, regardless of sex, colour, creed, or religion”?
I am a left-hander. Should we make it compulsory for boards to have at least one leftie, or should every board have one redhead to appease them? That’s taking it to the extreme, but you get my point.
Both political parties talk about attracting more females into political life. Did it ever occur to them that smart women might not want to hang out with a bunch of mealy- mouthed politicians?
Society has changed and more and more women are breaking into the male-dominated boardrooms and they are doing it because of their drive, ability and ambition – qualities that have nothing to do with gender.
The young women of tomorrow are better equipped to forge their way because they have grown up as equals. A walk through any high school will confirm this for anyone.
Yes, there are still issues about equal pay that need to be addressed and changed immediately. But politically motivated change is not the answer to the problem here.
The question is, how do we make sure the very best person is appointed to be a judge or serve on a board?
It is not, how do I make myself more appealing to female voters for the next election?
Your thoughts are welcome.
Talk to me
■ What do you think? Post a comment below.
■ If you have any news or events, let me know at kevin@howdypartnersmedia. com.au
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