2020 panel - women and multi-cultural groups under represented

[moneymajix]

Businesswomen question 2020 panel mix

Updated 3 hours 8 minutes ago


Cate Blanchett is the only woman named as part of the 10-member panel that will choose people to attend the 2020 summit. (AFP: Timothy A Clary)


Actress Cate Blanchett is the only woman named as part of the Government-appointed 10-member panel that will choose people to attend the summit in April.

The chairwoman of Harris Farm Markets, Katherine Harris, says it is a lopsided board that will only be able to represent half of the population.

"It's not just that we're not getting different points of view but it's also that we're not getting role models," she said.

"All the young women coming out of school and at universities - they look up at this group of the supposedly 1,000 great thinkers in Australia and nine out of 10 of them are all men."

Ms Harris says she expected more from Mr Rudd.

"He's got his successful wife. He understands that most women are not actually at home looking after the grandchildren or the children, they've unfortunately got lots of other jobs as well. And this just ... is just such a shock."

Executive director of lobby group Women on Boards, Claire Braund, fears an under-representation of women on the summit leadership group will also lead to too many men and not enough women among the 1,000 summit delegates.

"This sends a message to young people, to future leaders that women are not equal, not good enough, not on our government's radar and not going to be considered," she said.

"I have to ask the question when I saw this list, why is it that the top 11 people, the first in the class, don't include at least one woman of substance in the areas of science, economics, health, rural affairs, governance, sustainability? Is there not one other woman with the qualifications and experience who can join Cate Blanchett and assume a leadership role in this important summit?

"How are we going to bring women, 51 per cent of the population, into this critical discussion that we're having about Australia's future?

The other 10 members are all men and from Anglo-Saxon backgrounds, apart from Aboriginal surgeon, Kelvin Kong.



http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...26/2172724.htm

[doctorj]

Why is the gender of this appointments committee important?
Surely the skills of those they appoint is more important than what is (or isn't) hanging between their legs?

Another media beat up. What happened to real journalism? Even 60 Minutes is full of celeb interviews these days.

[ZacR]

Quote: Originally Posted by moneymajix Businesswomen question 2020 panel mix Updated 3 hours 8 minutes ago Cate Blanchett is the only woman named as part of the 10-member panel that will choose people to attend the 2020 summit. (AFP: Timothy A Clary) Actress Cate Blanchett is the only woman named as part of the Government-appointed 10-member panel that will choose people to attend the summit in April. The chairwoman of Harris Farm Markets, Katherine Harris, says it is a lopsided board that will only be able to represent half of the population. "It's not just that we're not getting different points of view but it's also that we're not getting role models," she said. "All the young women coming out of school and at universities - they look up at this group of the supposedly 1,000 great thinkers in Australia and nine out of 10 of them are all men." Ms Harris says she expected more from Mr Rudd. "He's got his successful wife. He understands that most women are not actually at home looking after the grandchildren or the children, they've unfortunately got lots of other jobs as well. And this just ... is just such a shock." Executive director of lobby group Women on Boards, Claire Braund, fears an under-representation of women on the summit leadership group will also lead to too many men and not enough women among the 1,000 summit delegates. "This sends a message to young people, to future leaders that women are not equal, not good enough, not on our government's radar and not going to be considered," she said. "I have to ask the question when I saw this list, why is it that the top 11 people, the first in the class, don't include at least one woman of substance in the areas of science, economics, health, rural affairs, governance, sustainability? Is there not one other woman with the qualifications and experience who can join Cate Blanchett and assume a leadership role in this important summit? "How are we going to bring women, 51 per cent of the population, into this critical discussion that we're having about Australia's future? The other 10 members are all men and from Anglo-Saxon backgrounds, apart from Aboriginal surgeon, Kelvin Kong. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...26/2172724.htm

[kennas]

This is a serious conference, they're not talking about hairspray, or tampons.

Children make up about 30% of the population, I didn't hear them crying out.

I'm surprised gays and lesbians haven't demanded representation though. That's about 70% of the population right now.

Now, who else can I make angry....

Oh, those Muslims, how were they represented? We have the 'Anglican Everywhere' on the panel!!

Damn surprised the Australian of the Year hasn't been selected, we probably needed a theme song.

And where are The Wiggles!!!


Oh, hang on, there's going to be 100 on the panel. So, perhaps the balance will sort itself out.

Julia, Prospector and Grace for the panel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[chops_a_must]

I guess without women there, it wont just be a talk/ bitch fest after all!

[moneymajix]

Hi Kennas

I hazard a guess that you make all the decisions in your household.


:


Good luck, if it works for you and yours.

Not for everyone.

cheers


PS: Must be nice to be a white, anglo-saxon male (NOT)!

[moneymajix]

Doctor

Quote: Why is the gender of this appointments committee important?

[doctorj]

Quote: Originally Posted by moneymajix Obviously the male ego at work.

[moneymajix]

Dear Doctor

Yes. Larger group likely to be more representative, one would hope. There would probably be a greater chance of that if the panel was more representative.


Talk to the females in your life (preferrably a cross section) and see if they think it is a media beatup or there is reason to be concerned about issues of inequality, discrimination etc.

Maybe they can enlighten you a tad.



PS: I wonder how you would react if the panel consisted of one male!

[doctorj]

Quote: Originally Posted by moneymajix Talk to the females in your life (preferrably a cross section) and see if they think it is a media beatup

[moneymajix]

Dear Doctor

You're not too scared to talk to those women?
I suspect you have an inkling as to what they might say!

I did not mention any set figures re the panel in terms of gender breakup:
50-50, 40-60 or whatever, as it is not of most importance.

The greater issue is inclusion of the talents of all types of Australians in the decision-making process. Kennas mentioned some of these groups in his post.

We are going to get a greater variety of questions and hopefuly better solutions, if a diversity of people are included in decsion-making.


Secondly, the inference one could make from the current composition of the panel is that women and people from ethnic groups make up less than ten pecent of Australia's best and brightest. I don't believe that for a second.


You can play around with figures, if you like. Maybe, that is something some men are inclined to do. It is very simplistic, imo. Maybe some women and men take into account other issues. Pretty insulting too, to those who make up those groups which would be over 50% of this society.



PS: Re your initial mention of the media.
There are very few worthwhile investigative journalists.
You have to search them out.
60 minutes - I would treat it and similar programs as entertainment or worse.

[doctorj]

Quote: Originally Posted by moneymajix The greater issue is inclusion of the talents of all types of Australians in the decision-making process. Kennas mentioned some of these groups in his post.

[moneymajix]

Dear Doctor,

Quote: I hate to break it to you, Kennas was taking the p!ss.

[moneymajix]

Dear Doctor

Quote: You're making a mountain out of what is statistically a molehill. It'd be worth revisiting when the wider group is selected, but until then, it is meaningless.

[rub92me]

Dear girls and boys. I think everyone is jumping to conclusions a bit here. Reading the article it says the panel of 10 that will make the choice of 1,000 smarties has only one woman in it. Why would that mean that all the 9 man in that panel will only choose male smarty-pants and Cate will choose only female smarty-panties?
On another note I think they're going to struggle to find 1,000 really smart people in the whole of Australia anyway, but that's another topic
On another note again: Irony is more a male thing apparently. Someone did a study on it; a humourless woman.

[Julia]

If we consider the proportion of women in leading positions in Australia, whether political, business, academe etc., then the ratio of 1 in 10 as with this panel is probably more or less representative.

I heard Ms Harris with this comment on 'PM' this evening and my only thought was "I wonder what especially qualifies Cate Blanchett as an actor to be on such an august panel?" The gender balance didn't cross my mind.

[chops_a_must]

Quote: Originally Posted by moneymajix You can play around with figures, if you like. Maybe, that is something some men are inclined to do. It is very simplistic, imo. Maybe some women and men take into account other issues. Pretty insulting too, to those who make up those groups which would be over 50% of this society.

[dhukka]

Quote: Originally Posted by Julia I heard Ms Harris with this comment on 'PM' this evening and my only thought was "I wonder what especially qualifies Cate Blanchett as an actor to be on such an august panel?" The gender balance didn't cross my mind.

[moneymajix]

Chops

Quote: I love the way minority groups... and in particular feminists, put forth the notion that issues from a certain group, can only be represented by that particular group.

[doctorj]

Quote: Originally Posted by chops_a_must I love the way minority groups... and in particular feminists, put forth the notion that issues from a certain group, can only be represented by that particular group.