Reason For The Wage Gap? Menstruation

Since women entered the workforce they have been paid less than their male peers.

At times, measly pay was passed off as a war relief effort, others it was because women’s jobs were considered unskilled; some women were even blamed for not bargaining for higher wages while countless others were edged out of their jobs once they got married or had children. Many people put it down to the uterus.

Now, from a New Zealand industry leader, comes an equally ludicrous excuse for inequality.

Employers Association boss Alasdair Thompson has declared women are paid less because of their monthly “sick problems.”

“I don’t like saying it because it sounds like I’m sexist but it’s a fact of life,” Thompson said.

When asked to provide evidence that women’s menstruation was effecting their productivity, Thompson refused to answer and, in a classic actions-speak-louder-than-words moment, ended up walking out of the interview.

Al, it doesn’t sound like you’re sexist for any other reason than you are sexist. Either sexist, or completely ignorant when it comes to understanding the balancing act working women and mothers engage with, on a daily basis.

And I cannot think of any woman I know who ever, let alone regularly, misses work because of her period. It is not a disease and it can no longer be used as a pathetic go-to excuse for an embarrassing wage gap.

The Employers Association president also explained that women are paid less because they take more time off to care for children.

This is by no means a reflection of women’s competence or work ethic but rather of the unfair distribution of domestic labour that often lands women with two full-time roles. If fathers shared missed days of work to care for sick kids, women wouldn’t be in this position.

The dopey statements have triggered angered responses from both sides of politics, and rightly so.

Greens MP Sue Kedgley much sums it up neatly:

“To have someone with those sort of neanderthal views head of a major employers’ association undermines the credibility of the whole organisation. At least some of the true attitudes that employers hold are  coming out, but they are pretty shocking and utterly sexist.”

Contact the author here: brianna@morningquickie.com