(IWWD) 2025 – IEU and AEU women gather to consider: How can we begin to Accelerate Action on issues that impact on women working in Education
The gathering on Thursday March 6 held (at the IEU) took the form of a WRAW (Women’s Rights at Work) chat. This is a great format for exploring issues which we borrowed from our sisters at Vic Trades Hall.
In an energised environment, women from both of our unions shared openly, honestly and with much laughter, the common positives and negatives of working in education.
Some positives identified of being a woman working in education were:
- positive female role models (who aren’t celebrities);
- being known and acknowledged;
- the connections, commonalities and community of working in a female dominated industry and letting girls know that they have voices and can own the space.
Issues most widely and deeply felt by members were:
- Tasks of a domestic, social justice or social nature in workplaces still always falling to, or expected to, be undertaken by women
- Despite women making upward of 70% of the education workforce this is not reflected in leadership roles
- Not being supported by male colleagues when disrespected by male students
By the time everyone had warmed, after sharing experiences which, were not unsurprisingly very similar, groups explored possible solutions to the most widely and deeply felt issues at both a workplace level and a broader systemic and societal level.
With an accountability buddy, members left with a personal starting point for their own activism.
If this group of women is any indication of the power and solidarity we have in a collective to cause change, despite the gender challenges still faced, the future is certainly bright.
To get involved or for more information on ‘Women in Focus’, see our website: https://ieusa.org.au/women-in-focus
If you would like more information on future equity or women events, contact Meredith Farmer via our office on 8410 0122 or enquiries@ieusa.org.au
