More women serving as civic leaders at Dubbo is a suggestion from the grassroots about one way to achieve greater equality.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
As Dubbo resident Kerry Palmer marked International Women's Day on Sunday, she noted men were the clear majority of Dubbo Regional Council's elected representatives.
"Three representatives out of 10 [are women], and no indigenous representation, as far as I'm aware," Ms Palmer said.
"So, there's a bit of room to move there, just at a local level."
Ms Palmer was at a live telecast of the All About Women Festival from the Sydney Opera House, hosted by Western Plains Cultural Centre. Professor Gina Rippon, who made the case against there being distinct differences in male and female brains in her book, The Gendered Brain, spoke in a session Ms Palmer found valuable.
"I was really interested in that gender discussion, and the pink-blue thing at the end as well was kind of interesting because, well, I'm a grandparent..." Ms Palmer said.
"I was reflecting on my tox box at home because we've got grandsons, but our toy box is a bit balanced, I'm happy to say."
Ms Palmer contests there had been progress towards equality, and noted that less than 200 years ago, "women were delegated to the kitchen and the nursery and they weren't considered business people or politicians or worthy of an education".
"So I think we're doing pretty good, we're on track, we've got a little bit of a way to go, but leadership across all realms of our society and - I'll leave it at that," she said.
Lynn Hopgood of Sydney emerged from the first session "feeling encouraged".
The discussion about "the whole gender reveal, the pink versus blue" and "the binary" had been interesting, she said.
"Understanding as well, how best to work with everybody," she said.
Jacinta Coggins of Dubbo welcomed the chance to hear festival speakers without travelling to Sydney.
"I like the topics, I think it's important for women to be able to have their expertise recognised, and what they've learnt, and share it with other women," she said.
In a statement, NSW Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor highlighted that women were increasingly making their mark in decision-making in NSW workplaces, with females holding almost 40 per cent of managerial roles, compared to 35 per cent a decade ago.
"The new numbers show that we are making great strides towards equal participation in leadership roles - and it's so fantastic that we are talking about this on International Women's Day," she said.
Faye Wheeler
I have been a journalist for more than a decade and in that time I have been keeping Daily Liberal readers up to date about issues affecting them and what's happening in their community. Throughout my career I have covered a range of rounds and most recently I have been focusing on the business round.
I have been a journalist for more than a decade and in that time I have been keeping Daily Liberal readers up to date about issues affecting them and what's happening in their community. Throughout my career I have covered a range of rounds and most recently I have been focusing on the business round.
