Today is International Women’s Day, a day in which we celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. This year’s theme is #PressforProgress.
Deborah Parker, President-Elect of Palliative Care NSW, reminds us that the overwhelming majority of carers for people with a life limiting illness are women and we should celebrate the important difference these unsung heroes make in the world.
Caring, both formal and informal, has long been stereotypically seen as a women’s role.
According to recent research in the US, even in a female-dominated profession like nursing where women represent 90% of the workforce, male nurses earn on average $5100 more per year than female nurses.
Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows women working in the health care and social assistance sector were earning 29.1 per cent less than men in 2014.
Clearly, there is still a long way to go before we reach gender parity.
Image: Palliative Care Australia