Dump the heels, bridge the wage gap

"it's got nothing to do with school, peers or parents"

Just because you don't think they have nothing to do with it, doesn't mean it is true. The research shows otherwise. The research, which i have just skimmed through, asks young people what influenced them when making their career choices. And some respondents said that schools, peer and parents were influential. So who are we to argue against their real life experiences?

And to Alex #19..there is no need to be homophobic

I???m assuming you think that the data you posted suggests that women tend to work in better paid occupations. If so, I'm glad you don't work at stats nz anymore.

Using occupation at a 1 digit level hides difference within those categories. For example, the professional category included surgeons (a male dominated field) and plunket nurses (a female dominated field). Using a 1 digit break down would assume that these two occupations are paid equal, which of course they are not. Therefore it is not until you break occupation down into more precise categories where gender differences in pay are highlighted. And if you break it down to a 5 digit level you see the gender differences identified in the article.

hmmm but seriously not everyone goes to the hairdressers and i do not think their on the same level of importance.

i for one would rather have a bad hair day compared to a leaky house or a broken down house. also a house is far more expensive then a haircut, also i think their are a lot more male hairdressers than there are female builders!!!

and whats with all the females saying thanks for listening after there comments!!! G.A.Y.hahaha

I was thinking about the chemicals, you're right, they can be dangerous. Have you seen some of the stories about permanent damage caused by hair dye?

It is pretty stink that a hairdresser only gets $14 per hour. It must be a very hard living. Especially with a 3 year student loan at the end of it.

And while we are on that, what about care givers? Trusted with looking after our elderly, or children, on close to minimum wage. So wrong.

As certain industry demographics shift from male-dominated to female-dominated, the corresponding pay packet associated with those industries shrinks. Observe current trends in IT salaries; they're shrinking considerably in real terms, even as women begin to break into the sector. Or, historically, teaching and medicine. Tradies, be on your guard.

I am a female engineer in my mid 30's. I landed an excellent cadetship when I was 18 and had great support from my parents, employers and tutors. Back then there was also a "let's get more women into non-traditional occupations" hobby horse and I was asked to speak at schools promoting engineering to girls. What the lobbyists forget is the individual has to want to work in this industry and have an aptitude for it. No good doing something just for the money - and that goes for either sex.

I worked at Stats NZ for a number of years and am very familiar with how the numbers in the article have been misinterpreted. Rather than go into details about how FTE's (Full Time Equivalents) blow out the bell curve when it comes to the gender wage gap. I thought I would share some numbers instead.

The below occupational classification ((NZSCO90 - 1 Digit)) is ranked by highest average income.

1: Legislators, Administrators And Managers 2: Professionals 3: Technicians and Associate Professionals 4: Clerks 5: Service and Sales Workers 6: Agriculture And Fisheries Workers 7: Trade Workers 8: Plant and Machine Operators 9: Elementary Occupations

Number of People (000's) Employed by Occupation (NZSCO90 - 1 Digit) For the Years Ending December 1991 to 2005

Top 5 Occupations Year Male Female Total % Male %Female 1991 422.1 537.1 959.2 44.0 56.0 1992 424.1 540.3 964.4 44.0 56.0 1993 441.2 549.9 991.1 44.5 55.5 1994 446.7 581.6 1028.3 43.4 56.6 1995 476.7 609.7 1086.4 43.9 56.1 1996 484.7 643.7 1128.4 43.0 57.0 1997 495.7 649.6 1145.3 43.3 56.7 1998 485.9 653.6 1139.5 42.6 57.4 1999 496.3 662.2 1158.5 42.8 57.2 2000 504.4 682.0 1186.4 42.5 57.5 2001 524.1 706.6 1230.7 42.6 57.4 2002 538.7 730.4 1269.1 42.4 57.6 2003 550.1 756.6 1306.7 42.1 57.9 2004 566.7 781.1 1347.8 42.0 58.0 2005 586.8 814.2 1401.1 41.9 58.1

Bottom 4 Occupations Year Male Female Total % Male %Female 1991 424.1 132.4 556.5 76.2 23.8 1992 425.1 133.4 558.5 76.1 23.9 1993 426.4 136.0 562.4 75.8 24.2 1994 452.1 137.9 590.0 76.6 23.4 1995 465.4 140.5 605.9 76.8 23.2 1996 480.4 140.5 620.9 77.4 22.6 1997 473.8 138.8 612.6 77.3 22.7 1998 471.6 135.4 607.0 77.7 22.3 1999 467.8 143.9 611.7 76.5 23.5 2000 477.4 136.9 614.3 77.7 22.3 2001 476.3 140.0 616.3 77.3 22.7 2002 498.0 138.8 636.8 78.2 21.8 2003 505.3 136.7 642.0 78.7 21.3 2004 527.0 139.8 666.8 79.0 21.0 2005 529.9 138.5 668.4 79.3 20.7

These are just the facts without any biased interpretation, make of them what you will......

This is true.....although hairdressing does involves the use of chemicals (which can be just as dangerous in uneducated hands) but I guess scissors and cut throat razors don't qualify as 'dangerous' tools (not unless you are trying to juggle them on a roof!) lol.

just try to think back to the last 'disasterous' haircut/colur etc you had.......Hairdressers may not build houses but they do have the resposibility of 'making' or 'breaking' the self confidence a person has of their own image.

Each to their own trade, I guess I just find it disappointing that despite the similarities in training (and course related costs throughout the training process i.e student loans etc) the wage gap still exists...again, this is only my opinion, cheers for listening

You just dont see many woman puting their hands up for these jobs. That isnt anyones fault, its just a fact. "...workplaces could enhance their environments so they were more female friendly," (Shenagh Gleisner) she said. I dont want to come off as being sexist here, but its the work enviroment. Its the job that you do. If being a nurse is a female dominant job, you dont see guys trying to "man it up". They are there to look after the sick - generally speaking - like I say, its the job.

Fair call, they both do the same training. But when was the last time you saw your hairdresser outside, exposed to the elements on top of a roof, or using very dangerous tools? Not to mention, not trying to sound rude here, but I would think its alot more difficult to put a house together, than give a haircut. just my opinion though. thanks for listening!! :)