68. CORDELIA FINE

This interview by Allan Sicard on The Courage to Lead Interview Series explores what is really meant by Gender Equality with a true expert in the field Professor Cordelia Fine. 

This is the 2nd time Cordelia has been on our podcast(see Episode 36). She is described as a 'living legend' researcher in this field with her books on the subject having the following descriptions :

‘Ten books about women that will change your life’ (Sunday Times), '22 books women think men should read’ (Huffington Post), ‘Top 10 books on women in the past 30 years’ (The Australian) and the New York Public Library’s Essential Reads on Feminism, 100 Years After the 19th Amendment, among others. 

Her latest book titled "Patriarchy Inc" seeks to shift the dial from something we need to do in a business sense to the concept of well-being for everyone. 

As our responsibilities grow we have periods in our lives that we step in and out of paid work for care giving responsibilities as parent and as a carer, for partners, parents and relatives. 

It is unfathomable that women should be the only care givers.  As the baby boomers age, 1 in 2 women over 80 and 1 in 3 men over 80 will suffer from dementia.  A lot of people will be parents to their children and carers to their parents.  Care giving will potentially be a greater activity than paid work. 

Gender equality is getting lost in economic framing.  Equality and inclusion is about a fairer and more just society for everybody.  It really is that simple and something we should all embrace  and consider what our workplaces will need to be like to accomodate our care giving responsibilities.

 

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