Of topic a little I know but I find the equality in employment debate interesting in that the media is regularly reminding us all that women in general are under represented in upper management. Every time the topic arises, I shake my head and sigh because I have long thought that women (in general - not all of course!) just don't want those jobs and that is why they are under represented. This thread really confirms that for me.
I am not convinced about that - I think sure a lot of women might not want 'those' roles while they have a very young family/in the process of having a family - but would later on but the years of not being able to find suitable employment during those young years then affects them for the rest of their working life. The attitudes of employers towards fathers taking more of a family role allowing women the higher level roles also negatively impacts women reaching those upper management positions too. In the past I think I thought it was women not wanting those roles but since becoming a mum and returning to work myself I think is maybe partly that but a big part of the reason are problems with the 'system'. I do however think the media focus on the wrong things because you have to address the problems lower down first to eventually get the flow through to upper management. More stories about issues that occur at a level that more people can relate to would help.