Women’s Day highlights gender pay gap
The gender pay gap dominated discussion at a Hamilton event held to mark International Women’s Day.
Melodies from Mouse and Paravola West filled Hamilton’s Nivara lounge, as women and men gathered to mark International Women’s Day 2017.
The event ended a day organised by Jo Wrigley and Kyro Selket, to celebrate social, economic, cultural, and political achievement for women.
One topic dominated discussions: the gender pay gap, which the Ministry for Women says is 12%.
“It turns out to have been a brilliant conversation,” said Wrigley.
Scientist Adrienne Livingston attended last night’s event and said, until she went to a talk with the Equal Employment Opportunites Commissioner Dr Jackie Blue, she did not realise the gender pay gap issues.
“I was unaware of the gap in pay equality as a professional female in a field paying well,” she said.
Livingston, who is standing in the Waikato Regional Council by-election, said taking five years off to have children impacted her working life, even after she came back from maternity leave.
She compared being a working parent to having three jobs.
Hamilton events to mark the day included a free breakfast, an art exhibition at at creative Waikato and a conservatorium of music at Gallagher Events Centre as well as the after party at Nivara
Selket and Wrigley said they were amazed at the young women who came to events throughout the day.
“They don’t need to be inspired, they are inspired,” said Selket.
Poor weather meant a market intended to be held at Garden Place was cancelled. However, Wrigley and Selket were delighted by the support they received.
A variety of people volunteered their time and services.
“It cost nothing, all these people have done it for free, the only thing was the posters,” said Selket.
Nivara Lounge owner Ivan Muir, who offered Nivara as a venue, does not think the pay gap should even be an issue.
“I believe in equal rights,” said Muir
DV Bryant helped donated money for the posters, and Countdown also supported the cause by providing gift vouchers.
The organisers plan an even bigger International Women’s Day next year, and will seek funding for the event.
“If we can do this with an oily rag imagine what we can do: we’ve got a hell of a network next year,” said Selket.
