Take me for example. In a particular organisation, in relation to a promotion I had put myself forward for, despite having the experience and qualifications that surpassed many other candidates, I was declined on the basis made privately but nevertheless explicit to me that "you have young children and we support you in spending time with them".
Next notable case in point - the rise of Jacinda Ardern and her being questioned about her future intentions on having children and the correlation to her ability to do the job. Jacinda accepted questioning along those lines in relation to herself because she had previously commented on those matters, however she firmly holds that it's inappropriate for employers to be questioning prospective female employees about fertility and prospective children issues during hiring processes.
It's these sorts of experiences that women encounter, that for the most part men are not subjected to in employment and the wider world, that likely colours one's perception of whether gender pay equity issues exist or not.
To help clarify the situation statistically and the causes behind the gender pay gap situation the Ministry of Women released a report earlier this year which showed factors such as differences in education, occupations and industries that men and women work in, and the fact that women are more likely to work part-time, only accounted for about 20 per cent of the current gender pay gap. The other 80 per cent was owing to "unexplained" factors such as conscious and unconscious bias.
Feminist economist Prue Hyman said in order to understand the pay gap issue people had to understand how society constrained choices for certain groups, including women. Many women can see it happening because it's happening to them behind closed doors - being inappropriately questioned and having decisions made about them that preclude them from positions based upon irrelevant (and arguably illegal at times) gender-based factors. Generally men are never asked about or precluded from positions in employment matters due to child-rearing issues, why should women be?
The Green Party is calling out these issues out so that there is more transparency, accountability and fairness around these matters. Being underpaid has serious consequences. Over a year or a lifetime, the difference in women's ability to participate in society, put a roof over their heads and feed their household and their children is profound. I believe Labour supports this issue and other parties may as well. However, I see the Greens as leading the charge on this important issue.
As part of their campaign, the Greens exclaim that "New Zealand was the first country where women won the right to vote, and now we can be the first country to have pay equity for women".
I think it's an exciting aim and much-needed area of development in New Zealand and across the globe.
* Jacoby Poulain is a Hastings district councillor, a board member of the Hawke's Bay District Health Board and is on the EIT Council.
