4 March, 2016

International Women’s Day Sees New Zealand Midwives Join Call for Gender Equity

What do New Zealand midwives have in common with Hollywood actresses? They are paid less than men because they are women.

Actress Jennifer Lawrence has spoken out recently about sexism in the film industry after she discovered that she has been paid less than male actors on the same movies.

It is against this background of continued inequality in the workplace and elsewhere that the theme for International Women’s Day on Tuesday, 8 March is gender parity.

Just like Hollywood actresses, New Zealand midwives are among women around the world still fighting gender inequality. The New Zealand College of Midwives is in the process of taking the New Zealand government to court on behalf of community midwives alleging pay discrimination on the basis of gender. Community midwives have received minimal pay increases over nearly a decade.

The College is arguing that midwives have been undervalued because they are an almost-exclusively female workforce and that they are now paid significantly less than men in equivalent types of work.

The College will take the next step in its case on 12 April when it will lodge its evidence.

“We have been patient for long enough,” says Karen Guilliland, Chief Executive of the New Zealand College of Midwives. “This is not just a women’s issue. It affects the whole community. Midwives are starting to leave the profession because their pay does not reflect the work they do and ultimately this will damage maternity care in New Zealand.”

Karen Guilliland will be available to speak about the College’s case and equal pay for work of equal value.

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