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For many years women were the victims of a patriarchal society. It has been the main accusation of the women’s movement since its inception that men have treated women badly. They have for centuries used them as sex objects, child bearers and unpaid domestic slaves. (McNamara K et al, 1). All these themes are brought brutally to life in a play called Medea. Not only were women treated unfairly by men but also by society, as they weren’t entitled to equal opportunity… Fortunately perceptions on gender relations has changed slowly yet dramatically over the years which has created change in life in Australia. In this essay it will take you through the ideas of a patriarchal society, the changes that have occurred leading to how the changing perceptions on gender affected life in Australia.
A primary reason for the gender inequality is because of the perception of the sexual division of labour. It has been seen that men as a group tend to be more economically and politically powerful and have more prestige than women. As a group woman have less income, wealth, power and prestige than men do collectively. (Bessant J & Watts R, 00)
It was seen that men sold their labour in the labour market while women did the housework. Those women that did work earned much less then men. Also many women did not receive an education as it was seen as a waste on them since they would be housewives, which prevented them from many jobs in the near future.
However, fortunately much of the perception on gender has changed and we are moving away from a patriarchal society, that is not to say that sexism still doesn’t exist. Since the second world war perceptions on gender and gender relations seem to have changed several times. All those changes that occurred were the build up that shapes life in Australia today.
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In the immediate post war period until the 150s, there was a lot of emphasis on the value of home and heath. Women’s jobs were required for the men returning from the war. In the 160s the emphasis changed; an expanding economy meant more jobs and more money, and a greater sense of freedom. It wasn’t so much home and heath as sex drugs and rock n roll. ‘It was an era that released women from the role of a domestic wife only to replace it with the image of a liberated woman who had to be sexy, independent and self-confident. (Goulds S, 185)
It was in the 170s when most of the changing occurred. The campaign for women’s rights grew stronger and louder. They formed Organisations to demand equal pay and more freedom in their lives. They were granted equal pay and had more rights. In the 180s, Equal Opportunity laws were introduced to give women equal opportunity in the workplace. In 184,the Government passed the Sex Discrimination Act. This made it illegal to discriminate against a person on the basis of their sex. For women this meant employers could no longer refuse to employ them simply because they were a female, married or pregnant. This law gave women more employment opportunity, opening doors into careers or positions that no longer were dominated by men. (Sheppard A, 00)
Another major change that occurred over the years is women in parliament. At first many people perceived parliament to be a place not for women. Therefore women stood independently of formed their own party. In the 170s women’s liberation campaigners renewed the push to elect women into parliament throughout Australia. A Government lobby group was formed on women’s issues and to provide them with the support they needed to get into parliament. Ten years later there were 58 female members in parliament. In 001, out of the total 4 parliamentarians, 55 were female. This rate was almost double the rate of females in parliament throughout the world.
Education is another major factor to consider when thinking of the changes that have occurred in life in Australia. For many years women did not get an education, it was seen pointless for them as their duty was to stay at home rather than work. Or as also suggested by Goulds S, (185) that women aren’t as capable as men. “Women’s subjects are somehow less practical. Is this difference a reflection of the fact that society still does not really expect women to have earn a living, or not for very long anyhow, or does it infact measure a very real difference between male and female abilities?”
Gradually and slowly girls started to get the chance to an education. Fabian S and Morag (180) found that in 1875 the first Australian academic college for girls was founded. In New South Wales, after the 188 Public School Act, there was public school education for girls, who could study the same subject as boys. By the 1880’s a select few woman were getting higher education. Out of the 17 girls that enrolled at Melbourne University, only forty-eight went on to university and of them only eight graduated. On the whole, girls were still supposed to be sensible mother and wife rather than professionals or academic.
Sheppard A (00), also found that Melbourne University was the first to allow women to attend classes and sit examinations that enabled a qualification as in 1876, Adelaide University allowed girls to attend class but not sit exams, which prevented them from getting a qualification. The first woman to graduate from Melbourne University was Julia Belle Guerian in 188. It wasn’t until 180 that an Australian woman qualified as a doctor, and in10 when a woman graduated in law but wasn’t permitted to practise as a lawyer until 11 when women were accepted into the profession.
Michele Lonsdale (17) wrote a book about the changing lives of women since the 150’s. Here she explores the change and progress of education in each decade. In the 150s state education streamed along gender lines girls did Home Economics while boys did woodwork. This was to prepare girls for jobs such as secretaries and boys for jobs in the trade. The late 150s saw the introduction to a broader curriculum; education was still though largely a masculine affair though. Australian Women’s Weekly in 15 wrote ‘ Most girls are interested � naturally- in the marriage prospects offered by various careers. Therefore, if your object is matrimony, it is logical to take a job where you’ll met men.’…In the 160s more of a change started to occur. Girls were encouraged to stay on at school longer, the demand for post-secondary education increased, bringing with it greater career options for young women. Paid work then gave married women greater financial independence and enriched them socially, as the idea of a homemaker became less appealing to them...In the 170s a report raised awareness of girls and education, as a result equal opportunities officers were appointed in schools to investigate sexism. A greater awareness of sexism occurred which brought women closer to feminist thinking and radical politics. It was a breakthrough for women as one writes ‘… Education is like food. I had waited so long. Being a housewife was in noway satisfying, it was bloody lonely. Being with other adults, being feed food all this exciting stuff was just terrific. In those early years we were all hungry for knowledge’…In the 180s the decade offered more hope for women. Girls were actively encouraged to take up computer and business studies to broaden their career choices. Schools were targeted to ensure that girls were aware of their options. They were able to take up subjects they couldn’t before and boys were able to take up humanity subjects.
Now about about 54% of university students are female and are enrolled in all courses offered in Australia, which has lead to an increase in careers for females and financial independence.
As you can tell from the research many changes has occurred over the years mainly focusing on women and their rights. Those changes have had great implications on life in Australia today. The female’s role has changed from a housemaid to independent women that are free to make her own decisions. Many females are taking up study and careers instead of giving birth. Therefore the birthrate has declined and the age for marriage has increased as females have more of say now. Women are also getting paid the same, as men therefore are financially independent. There was a great belief that women were meant to be sensible, caring and emotional while men were strong, less emotional and assertive. (Bessant J & Watts R, 00) It is now realised that this assumption is only a stereotype, as you can’t judge a gender on those characteristics.
However, even though life in Australia has changed because of the percpectives on gender there still remains a lot of room for improvement and questions to be answered. Why hasn’t Australia had a female PM yet? Why does our High Court mainly consist of male judges? Why do women make up fewer than 5 % of company directors of the top 100 businesses? (Bessant J & Watts R, 00)
Furthermore, why do double standards still occur if perceptions have on gender has changed? why do females still wait for men to ask them out on a date or propose to them? Why do males pay for females and open doors for them but not the other way round? Why cant females in the AFL if some women are capable of it?
Even though many gaps still do exist in life in Australia today to do with gender and gender relations, the development is still significant in our lives today. Those questions may or may not ever be answered but both ways gender inequality has decreased which has benefited many lives and life in Australia especially for females. Many females must also be commended for the fight they put on to get where they are today in Australia.
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