ABS Releases Gender Indicators and Ignores Male Disadvantage

Today the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Australia's so-called impartial statistical body released its Gender Indicators report: "a summary of gender specific data in six domains representing Economic security, Education, Health, Work and family balance, Safety and justice, and Democracy, governance and citizenship".

The ABS produced a media release about the publication. This release could have noted that:

• Across the board males fare much worse than females in the education system - most notably being 24% less likely to be enrolled in a bachelor degree or above
• Across the board males fare much worse than females in the health arena - most notably suffering death rates from cancer, heart disease, suicide, motor vehicle accidents and drug abuse between 1.6 and 3.4 times higher
• Males are 12% more likely than females to feel their work and family responsibilities are rarely/ never in balance
• Males are almost twice as likely as females to have experienced violence during the last 12 months and one third more likely to be a victim of physical or threatened physical assault.

However, these facts were conveniently ignored in favour of a media release titled "Busy mums want more paid work," citing the rate of underemployment being twice as high for women (8%) than for men (4%). Sadly it seems that the lace curtain extends all the way into our country's top statistical body.

The inaugural MR (mister) Walk on the Gold Coast, QLD

An event that aims to reverse some of the negative stereotypes associated with men, has garnered the support of the Gold Coast Titans, police and business leaders.

The initiative was sparked by Gold Coast Councillor Bob La Castra, following a question that was asked of four men, who were randomly selected from the audience of a seminar titled 'From Boys to Men'.

The question asked by the moderator was - 'can you tell me one thing that's good about being a man'?

"Not one of us could think of an answer. It's one of the few times I've been rendered speechless," says Cr La Castra.

According to the seminar's presenter, a respected authority on issues relating to men and boys in society, the lack of a response was 'usual'.

The presenter revealed that he had conducted surveys of primary school-aged girls on their perceptions of men. The responses included such statements as: 'men hurt people'; 'men are dangerous'; 'men kill people'; 'men rob banks'; 'men try to steal little children'.

"The children's responses are disturbing to say the least. When you factor in the everyday image portrayal of men, via the movie industry and the media, it shows that men have a serious, social image problem," says Cr La Castra.

"How often do we hear a news report saying, 'today, a woman was charged with armed robbery, murder, rape, or domestic violence'? These negative perceptions need to be addressed, not only for the good of society - but for the good of men."

As a result, Cr La Castra decided to organise an event - the Men Respect Walk, MR (mister) Walk - and approached managing director of the Gold Coast Titans Michael Searle, who took the concept to the NRL.

Click to read more ...

Going part-time: Dads' balancing act

Matthew Thompson dedicates a day a week to spending time with his two-year old daughter, Lydiana. Picture: Gary Graham

Men increasingly are casting off their traditional roles as hunter providers to work part time and take a greater role in caring for their children.

Dads who don't want to miss out on the formative years of their children's lives are turning down full-time work to provide for their families in other ways.

Employment and social leaders are encouraging the trend, believing it will help create gender equality in the workplace as well as at home.

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show that 1.02 million men are working in part-time jobs this year compared with only 902,000 in 2006.

Click to read more ...

Is the health system failing men? (Sydney Morning Herald)

Australian males die, on average, five years earlier than women. Four experts discuss why this longevity gap is so difficult to bridge.

Click to read more ...

In Praise of Men (North & South, NZ)

When I told a group of women friends I was going to write a celebratory essay about men, I picked up a faint, unspoken chill of disapproval. No matter that all of them are married to good men who trudge off to work every day, love their kids, clear the gutters and seem unlikely to suddenly declare they need a year off "to find themselves". But perhaps the women were more concerned than reproachful: writing in praise of men is risky business. It's inevitably interpreted as being anti-female, or at least anti-feminist, and every word must be inspected for unintended offence before being laid down on the page. Yet can you imagine tweaking the title of the book Why There Are No Good Men Left to Why There Are No Good Women Left - or Why There Are No Good Maori Left, for that matter? Even if the author of No Good Men intended to go beyond the cliche, she'd have been confident her female audience would be amused - and presumably didn't care if men were not.

Click to read more ...