An inaugural report card on the status of women’s equality in Australia has found that while some gains for gender equality have been made, progress is slowing or has stalled in several areas.
Releasing its inaugural Status of Women Report Card – 2023, the Office for Women said it was clear that gender inequality was not only holding women back, “but is a brake on our progress as a country”.
Commenting on the report card, Minister for Women, Senator Katy Gallagher said it showed the challenges women and girls in Australia faced through youth and young adulthood, in careers and working life, through parenthood and families, and in later life.
Senator Gallagher said this included that: One in four women had experienced sexual violence in their lifetime, compared to one in 13 men; Women over 55 were the fastest growing group of people experiencing homelessness; Women did more unpaid housework than men, even when they were the primary breadwinners (24.1 hours vs 19.1 hours); And 30 per cent of Australian men didn’t believe that gender inequality exists – “that’s more than the global average (21 per cent)”.
“The reality is, while we are making some gains on gender equality, we are not there yet and, in some aspects of women’s lives, progress has stalled,” Senator Gallagher said.
“Shining a light on these statistics may be confronting but it is crucial if we are to have an honest conversation about gender equality in this country.”
She said the Commonwealth Government would annually report on the challenges that continued to hold women and the country back, and use this to reflect on progress.
The Office’s two-page report card can be accessed at this PS News link.
