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Women in the workplace: help mothers who need it the most Women in the workplace: help mothers who need it the most
(2 months later)
I have two children and I feel invisible. My oldest child just turned three and the youngest is just five months old; I recently came off my Australian government-supplied paid parental leave and I'm working out how to earn some money. We live frugally, but I need an income.I have two children and I feel invisible. My oldest child just turned three and the youngest is just five months old; I recently came off my Australian government-supplied paid parental leave and I'm working out how to earn some money. We live frugally, but I need an income.
Here is why I feel invisible: the Workplace Gender Equality Agency has recently released a new target-setting toolkit as a resource for those employers who are (voluntarily) working towards equalising gender representation in the workforce. As of next year, the workplace gender equality act 2012 will come into effect, which aims to, among other things, "promote and improve gender equality in employment and in the workplace". The act applies to non-public sector organisations who have 100 or more staff. Here is why I feel invisible: the Workplace Gender Equality Agency has recently released a new target-setting toolkit as a resource for those employers who are (voluntarily) working towards equalising gender representation in the workforce. As of next year, the workplace gender equality act 2012 will come into effect, which aims to, among other things, "promote and improve gender equality in employment and in the workplace". The act applies to non-public sector organisations who have 100 or more staff. 
This is really, truly fantastic for women – gender diversity and equality within big companies is a huge boon for working professionals. However I, and many other women across the country, am not one of them.This is really, truly fantastic for women – gender diversity and equality within big companies is a huge boon for working professionals. However I, and many other women across the country, am not one of them.
I am a woman who woke up one morning after having her first kid, and realised that the marketable skills I developed before my pregnancy – shift work mostly – were in no way compatible with parenting. I'm a woman who had a chronic illness from ages 14 to 24, which has made it hard for me to hold down jobs, finish schooling, or start a career. I've never been able to finish my university degree because of months spent too sick to study and too sick to work, and when I finally made a recovery at 25, one of those funny little quirks of life happened – I fell pregnant.I am a woman who woke up one morning after having her first kid, and realised that the marketable skills I developed before my pregnancy – shift work mostly – were in no way compatible with parenting. I'm a woman who had a chronic illness from ages 14 to 24, which has made it hard for me to hold down jobs, finish schooling, or start a career. I've never been able to finish my university degree because of months spent too sick to study and too sick to work, and when I finally made a recovery at 25, one of those funny little quirks of life happened – I fell pregnant.
Childcare affordability and shortage, although a problem, is not the only problem facing mothers like me – others, like skill-transfer, part time work and flexible time, are as crucial. And yet, these issues rarely come into play when gender disparities in the workforce are discussed. Where are the initiatives to help mothers retrain and return to the workforce, considering that, of mothers with a child aged 12-14 months, only 45% had returned to paid employment? Childcare affordability and shortage, although a problem, is not the only problem facing mothers like me – others, like skill-transfer, part time work and flexible time, are as crucial. And yet, these issues rarely come into play when gender disparities in the workforce are discussed. Where are the initiatives to help mothers retrain and return to the workforce, considering that, of mothers with a child aged 12-14 months, only 45% had returned to paid employment? 
After all, mothers particularly face workplace discrimination. So if the issue of gender representation in the workplace is being addressed, why is it only being addressed for society's most advantaged women? That is, women who probably have higher educations, established careers and access to quality daycare while they sit on boards?After all, mothers particularly face workplace discrimination. So if the issue of gender representation in the workplace is being addressed, why is it only being addressed for society's most advantaged women? That is, women who probably have higher educations, established careers and access to quality daycare while they sit on boards?
When the conversation about gender representation revolves around "senior executives" and seats on the board, it's deeply insulting to the rest of us – women and mothers who have illnesses and disability, or who are single parents and can't find jobs to suit their kids' school hours; who are carers for disabled children or family members, or live in rural areas with little to no job opportunities. For some women, the only work available has no benefits or security – when I can swing the childcare, I clean apartments for a little extra cash.When the conversation about gender representation revolves around "senior executives" and seats on the board, it's deeply insulting to the rest of us – women and mothers who have illnesses and disability, or who are single parents and can't find jobs to suit their kids' school hours; who are carers for disabled children or family members, or live in rural areas with little to no job opportunities. For some women, the only work available has no benefits or security – when I can swing the childcare, I clean apartments for a little extra cash.
Here's an idea: help women who need it. Help women who want to work but can't afford to retrain and put their kids in daycare; help women with workplace flexibility for sick kids or school hours. Help mothers who are young, poor or disadvantaged establish careers instead of just scraping by in casual jobs that don't provide sick leave. And if you have a shortage of skills and women in resources? Provide training for women in those skills, of course.Here's an idea: help women who need it. Help women who want to work but can't afford to retrain and put their kids in daycare; help women with workplace flexibility for sick kids or school hours. Help mothers who are young, poor or disadvantaged establish careers instead of just scraping by in casual jobs that don't provide sick leave. And if you have a shortage of skills and women in resources? Provide training for women in those skills, of course.
Only when the debate about women's representation in the workforce encompasses all of us, including those who aren't in the workforce but want to be (and not just those with the best skill set), then we will be approaching equality. Meanwhile, the rest of us are left hoping the benefits of new legislation will roll downhill. Eventually. Only when the debate about women's representation in the workforce encompasses all of us, including those who aren't in the workforce but want to be (and not just those with the best skill set), then we will be approaching equality. Meanwhile, the rest of us are left hoping the benefits of new legislation will roll downhill. Eventually. 
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