Every time we liberate a woman, we liberate a man.  

Margaret Mead

As an anthropologist, Margaret Mead (1901-1978) spoke about taboo subjects; sex, spiritual beliefs, culture and gender roles.

Although her profession would enable this, her gender left her vulnerable to more than her fair share of criticism and scepticism. Over thirty years on since her death and over ninety years since the women's suffrage movement, women are still being held accountable for their gender first and then their profession.  

Here in Australia our own Prime Minister was subject to the same scrutiny. Six years ago Julia Gillard was publicly mocked when a photoshoot in her home revealed an empty fruitbowl in her kitchen and soon after was derisively called "deliberately barren" by Liberal Senator Bill Heffernan. 

Behind office doors, shop fronts, factories, departments and elsewhere women all over (even those right at the top) are judged not by their capacity to work but by their femininity. In 2011 women are still earning 18% less than men in Australia.  

All of us, men and women are impacted by this. The traditional 'bread winner role' of genders is changing, so too should our pays to reflect this community view.

thoughts from Hive...