Working Lives

Question 1

Overview of key issues women faced in Aotearoa in this sphere

Answer 1

• Women were expected to abandon their jobs when they married,
• No paid maternity leave
• Wage inequality and inequity
• Gendered jobs

Question 2

1 action that SWFs took on these issues was WOMEN IN TO POLITICS

Answer 2

Women’s Electoral Lobby (WEL) formed in 1975, aimed to encourage women’s participation in public life and help elect to public office people who would work for women’s equality.

WEL publicised issues through the media, lobied politicians and made submissions to select committees. Election years were a particularly busy time, as WEL rated candidates on their attitudes to women’s issues, held lunches with party leaders and reported on party policies.

Question 3

1 action that SWFs took on these issues was CHILD CARE CENTRES

Answer 3

Child care was necessary for working mothers.

Christchurch Women’s Liberation surveyed the city’s childcare centres, finding lengthy waiting lists and very low wages; Auckland-based Women for Equality held a childcare conference to discuss problems in sector; Palmerston North Women’s Liberation set up a childcare action group to lobby the council for more centres.

Question 4

1 impact on NZ women’s lives due to SWF was the EQUAL PAY ACT

Answer 4

The Equal Pay Act - 1972. This made it unlawful to pay women and men differently who are doing the same job.

It was common at the time for women to be paid a lot less than their male colleagues for doing exactly the same job.

While this law did not solve the gender pay gap, it was a big step forward.

Question 5

1 impact on NZ women’s lives due to SWF was the GENDER PAY GAP

Answer 5

2013 Kristine Barlette Case.
Over 40 years after the Equal Pay Act (1972), in 2013 it was tested by Kristine Barlette and her union E Tū in court. They argued that Kristine was underpaid, not in relation to her male colleagues, but because the work she did as a home support worker was mainly done by women, and therefore the whole workforce was undervalued.

After a long court process the court agreed with Kristine. The Equal Pay Act (1972) should provide protection for employees whose whole occupation may be undervalued based on gender.

Question 6

1 impact on NZ women’s lives due to SWF was CHANGES IN CHILD CARE

Answer 6

ECE (Early Childhood Education).
From the 1970s to 1990s child care increasingly moved from parent-led part-time facilities to all-day professional Early Childhood centres. This reflects the change in policy where education should be included, not just a babysitting/playcentre model of care.
Workplace Services
Some workplaces opened childcare centres. In the 1970s, 25 centres were opened in tertiary institutions. The public Service Association (PSA) union set up a centre for members’ children in central Wellington in 1981.

Question 7

1 impact on NZ women’s lives due to SWF was the SWF

Answer 7

Paternal Leave (Unpaid)
Maternity leave was introduced to New Zealand’s, public sector in 1948, but was not legislated for workers in the private sphere until 1980.

In 1987 unpaid leave was increased to 52 weeks and leave became gender-neutral and able to be shared between parents. Two weeks of unpaid paternity leave were also added.