Australia’s domestic violence crisis: Closing the gender pay gap will protect women from abuse
It’s an uncomfortable topic, but women still earn less than men in Australia. But closing the gender pay gap isn’t just about financial equality, it also helps protect women from domestic violence, writes Patty Kinnersly.
Opinion
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THEY say money talks, but when it comes to the gender pay gap, people are quick to change the subject.
It can be uncomfortable to discuss how in Australia, an average women working full-time earns 14 per cent, or $253.60 per week less, than an average man working full-time.
Many may argue that women decide to work less and look after the kids. Or, that women choose lower-paying jobs in hospitality or early childhood education, or aged care than their male-counterparts working in construction or mining.
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This suggests that as a society, we value these “female” industries less, or see them as ‘less’ important.
These arguments also overlook the value we, as a society, place on women and the kinds of paid and unpaid work that they do, and the amount we think is fair to pay for what we see as ‘women’s work.’
One thing is clear, for as long as we have a gender pay gap, we will have an unequal society. And with the economic impacts of the current pandemic, we have serious concerns that Australia may slow, or reverse progress on gender equality. With the pay gap already standing at 14 per cent before the pandemic, we cannot afford to take our eyes off this issue.
Closing the gender pay gap is not just about putting more money into women’s bank accounts, it is about increasing women’s financial independence and economic security, which can in turn help reduce violence against women.
Evidence shows us that at a societal level, it is gender inequality that creates the conditions for violence against women. The gender pay gap is one clear symptom of this inequality.
One of the drivers of violence against women is men’s control of decision-making and limits to women’s independence – something that plays out both in public life and in and private relationships, when women have unequal access to economic resources.
This is why increasing women’s independence and economic security is one of the many actions we as a society need to take to promote gender equality.
When women earn less, they do not have the same economic or financial security as men. This can reduce the choices they have and the level of independence that women have over their lifetimes. We also know that financial control is a common form of abuse or coercion used by men against women.
Workplaces have much to gain from helping to close the gender pay gap by advancing women’s leadership and career progression. It’s not just the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do. Research shows that ASX listed companies that have a female CEO had a five-percentage point increase in profitability, an extra $98 million for that company.
Workplaces also need to make flexible work arrangements genuinely available for both men and women, and make sure policies and processes are in place to eliminate gender inequality and discrimination.
Increasing the value and remuneration of jobs in female-dominated industries such as early childhood education and care, aged care and health care is also critical to closing the gender pay gap. These are jobs that COVID-19 has shown are essential to society.
We can’t allow women to be left behind as we recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic.
Across governments, that means applying a ‘gender lens’ to all recovery policies. This would ensure, for example, that economic stimulus measures do not just benefit male-dominated industries.
Both the gender pay gap and the prevalence of violence against women are clear and ongoing signs of gender inequality in Australian society. By addressing gender inequality as the root of both these issues, we can create a future where everyone enjoys equal pay, equal safety and equal respect.
Patty Kinnersly is CEO of Our Watch which is a national leader in the prevention of violence against women and their children.