Mrs M
yoda76My legacy for our future part 3 (of 3)
November 24th 2006 01:22
To date, there have always be more men in the workforce than women. Generally women take more leave than men to have and raise children. It is then feasible to assume that men, with less interruption to their career paths, are more likely to be in positions of power and policy making, whether it be in government or the corporate world.
For mothers two factors are at play when considering participating in paid work. Firstly, available positions of employment in the work force and more importantly, childcare. Even if there were employment opportunities aplenty, but no access to childcare, then a mother could not return to work under her own terms.
Earlier this year Sydney MP Jackie Kelly said that the child-care system was "designed by people who don't use it",
Who did design the current child care system? People who probably were not confronted with the same issues that my husband and I have been regarding work and family.
Policies need to be created that enable mothers to go back to work; more than history has dictated thus far.
We need those in power to restructure jobs, ideally the restructure the workforce as a whole. Positions need to be versatile and flexible. Readjust the system so men would find part-time work attractive – make it both intellectually stimulating and financially rewarding. This alone would have a two fold benefit. It would create opportunities for women to return to work sooner, further their careers faster, ultimately putting them into those elusive positions of power and hopefully simultaneously encourage men to be more involved in running the household.
But don’t let the snowball stop there.
Let’s take a tried and true concept such as job sharing one step further. If two employees can share the one job then why can’t there be childcare share – two children share the one childcare space. If the employer has it’s own childcare facility or, as Jackie Kelly MP has also suggested, “buy positions” for its employees then two mothers and two children can benefit from the one position. Kill two birds with one stone.
The original designers of the current system will be retiring soon and will be replaced by the newer and hopefully improved models who understand and see the value in this new style of parenting.
It is a mammoth task but if we capitalise on the momentum gained and continue to instigate change, it will happen sooner.
Lucky for me my husband and I are in complete agreement. How did I manage this? I was lucky enough to find him already like this. He had a lot of coaching from his older sisters who have an army full of children. So there are men already out there who are convinced of this new school of thought. It’s just a matter of finding them and multiplying them.
But how did I find him? I refused to settle for less. And why is that? Because my mother taught me that I could have a better deal than she had.
For mothers two factors are at play when considering participating in paid work. Firstly, available positions of employment in the work force and more importantly, childcare. Even if there were employment opportunities aplenty, but no access to childcare, then a mother could not return to work under her own terms.
Earlier this year Sydney MP Jackie Kelly said that the child-care system was "designed by people who don't use it",
Who did design the current child care system? People who probably were not confronted with the same issues that my husband and I have been regarding work and family.
Policies need to be created that enable mothers to go back to work; more than history has dictated thus far.
We need those in power to restructure jobs, ideally the restructure the workforce as a whole. Positions need to be versatile and flexible. Readjust the system so men would find part-time work attractive – make it both intellectually stimulating and financially rewarding. This alone would have a two fold benefit. It would create opportunities for women to return to work sooner, further their careers faster, ultimately putting them into those elusive positions of power and hopefully simultaneously encourage men to be more involved in running the household.
But don’t let the snowball stop there.
Let’s take a tried and true concept such as job sharing one step further. If two employees can share the one job then why can’t there be childcare share – two children share the one childcare space. If the employer has it’s own childcare facility or, as Jackie Kelly MP has also suggested, “buy positions” for its employees then two mothers and two children can benefit from the one position. Kill two birds with one stone.
The original designers of the current system will be retiring soon and will be replaced by the newer and hopefully improved models who understand and see the value in this new style of parenting.
It is a mammoth task but if we capitalise on the momentum gained and continue to instigate change, it will happen sooner.
Lucky for me my husband and I are in complete agreement. How did I manage this? I was lucky enough to find him already like this. He had a lot of coaching from his older sisters who have an army full of children. So there are men already out there who are convinced of this new school of thought. It’s just a matter of finding them and multiplying them.
But how did I find him? I refused to settle for less. And why is that? Because my mother taught me that I could have a better deal than she had.
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Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
Well said my good friend and say hello to Mum for me.
Do you think the world will ever escape the indirect effects of man's testoterone?
Unfortunately, a lot of women now have it, too.
I don't think we'll ever escape our gender and the cold hard facts of analysis of situations tell me this is true.
But I shall not be one of the ones trying to work it out.
The job sharing, with childcare place sharing and arangements by employers is a good one, but only large companies could accommodate this.
I often wonder if what we strive to achieve becomes less attractive once we have achieved it.
You're a thoughtful, caring person and I wish you well in all of your endeavours.
This new Orble system makes it harder to find people and is not very encouraging to newcomers I'm afraid or even those who have less time.
Something in line with the ideas you're promoting it seems to me.
Till we meet again.
katyzzz
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
This is a patriarchal society we live and always will live in. All we can do, I think, is change the patriarch. Not to become a woman, just to become a different sort of man. As a woman, I don't want to become the man, that's not feminism to me. That's not equality. That's conformity.
All we can do is try. And yes, sometimes the very thing we strive for doesn't end being what he had hoped.
I'm a firm believer in leaving this world in a better place than what I found it. Perhaps all these ideas I have will only work in a large corporation, but to me that's better than nothing at all.
Thank you for your kind words, time and time again.
I hope you don't let Orble take away your enthusiasm for your blog. The new look Orble did catch me off guard too but I hope to still see you around.
Love & stuff
Mrs M