So who said on here that women & men in Australia are treated equally?

[i-need-a-martini]

It wasn't that long ago we were arguing this with many saying the sexes were treated equally. And others saying there is no reason for feminism.

Well here is a good reason for women to stand up for their rights:

THE pay gap between male and female university graduates is growing with figures showing the difference more than doubled to $5000 last year.

A study released by the Australian government's Workplace Gender Equality Agency found the median gap in starting salaries for graduates increased from $2000 in 2011 to $5000 last year.

The disparity was the largest in architecture and building occupations, at 17.3 per cent. The starting salary for male graduates was $52,000 compared with $43,000 for women.

Female dentistry graduates earned 15.7 per cent or $14,000 less than men whose median starting salary was $92,000.

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The starting salary for female law graduates was $50,700 compared with $55,000 for men.

The agency's research executive manager, Carla Harris, said there was no adequate explanation for the difference. ''There's absolutely no logical reason why a male graduate would be seen as better than a female graduate.''

Dr Harris said all businesses should review their starting salaries to ensure they were fair. ''We need to fix the culture and embedded discrimination within our companies.''

An associate professor in architecture and design at RMIT, Esther Charlesworth, said architecture had traditionally been a ''pretty blokey profession''.

''There is a perception that male architecture graduates are more useful because they can be on site dealing with contractors,'' she said.

Dr Charlesworth, who finished her degree in 1989, said most of the women she graduated with were no longer practising architects. She said architecture had since become more welcoming for women but men still occupied the top positions at large firms.

An associate professor in management at Monash University, Anne Bardoel, said graduates should be recognised for their work rather than gender. ''If somebody is actually doing the work, whether they're male or female, they should be getting the same pay,'' she said.

Professor Bardoel said the findings were surprising given that female students often outperformed their male peers.

Monica Hope, who finished her law studies in 2011, said disparity in pay had never been an issue she had considered. She began working as a junior lawyer last July and had never experienced any gender gap in her pay.

''I've never been noticeably faced with any inconsistency at all,'' she said. ''I really haven't felt that pay rates for men and women has been a consideration.''

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/tertiary-education/gender-pay-gap-doubles-in-a-year-20130103-2c78q.ht...

[freakiness]

 I wouldn't expect male and female salary to be the same. 

Corse not,  men ave a famlie ta support dont thay

[i-need-a-martini]

OK, on average men work more hours a week than women for the same job. Women take more days off a year than men. Men take more risk than women and work in more hazzardous or more demanding jobs less women want to do. 

None of the above even warrants a response because it is so absurd. Women take more days off?? Men work more hours??? Get real.

Regarding dentists. They are paid based on their productivity PERIOD. Men are more productive in general than women therefore they get paid more. That has nothing to do with gender. 

More ridiculousness. Why on earth would a man be more productive than a woman? 

Ofcourse there're incidences where women are discriminated for exactly the same work load. That's life, it happens. But don't tell me you expect all cases for men to be paid the same as women. 

I don't expect a female brick layer to 'carry the same load' as a male bricklayer. But to be honest I can't think of any other occupation where a man's workload is greater than a womans. I am sure there are a few jobs based solely on strength but no other.

[the_bob_delusion]

OK, on average men work more hours a week than women for the same job. Women take more days off a year than men. Men take more risk than women and work in more hazzardous or more demanding jobs less women want to do. 

None of the above even warrants a response because it is so absurd. Women take more days off?? Men work more hours??? Get real.

Regarding dentists. They are paid based on their productivity PERIOD. Men are more productive in general than women therefore they get paid more. That has nothing to do with gender. 

More ridiculousness. Why on earth would a man be more productive than a woman? 

Ofcourse there're incidences where women are discriminated for exactly the same work load. That's life, it happens. But don't tell me you expect all cases for men to be paid the same as women. 

I don't expect a female brick layer to 'carry the same load' as a male bricklayer. But to be honest I can't think of any other occupation where a man's workload is greater than a womans. I am sure there are a few jobs based solely on strength but no other.

OK, whatever you say. 

[i-need-a-martini]

OK, whatever you say. 

well give me some back up if you want me to believe that men are more productive; men work longer hours; women take more days off. These are pretty bold statements.

[vintage-star]

Martini, I have no doubt that you are correct in regard to  inequality of pay and conditions in your industry and others, I am appalled that you also suffer sexism within your own office, although I can't say I am surprised.......it seems that little changes!!......... There are no excuses for this situation and no arguments that can explain this away......... I can't see that any thinking person could support a debate against the equality that women seek in the workplace and elsewhere!!

[carls*world]

Is this inequality just what individuals are offered upon taking positions? Or is it a legislated minimum amount payable, differing by gender?

One would like to think at least the latter is not the case.

[patchoo78]

[freakiness]

you can't legislate attitude change, Carl. that takes time and a willingness to actually change rather than the laugh behind their backs type pretend change.

[*crikey*mate*]

you can't legislate attitude change, Carl. that takes time and a willingness to actually change rather than the laugh behind their backs type pretend change.

You said it so much better and far more succinctly than I did....

[carls*world]

I'm keeping out of that part, by choice.

I was referring to the pay equality.