Nominations of women not successful

Press, 30 June 1983, Page 12

Nominations of women not successful

“If the Government had a commitment to improving the status of women, it would direct quasi-official bodies to accept more women nominees,” Danna Glendining, the present chairwoman of the Women’s Appointment File, told a recent meeting in Christchurch, organised by the National Organisation for Women.

Mrs Glendining said that she and the other committee members were becoming frustrated by the Women’s Appointment File’s “abysmal” lack of success. The Women’s Appointment File is run by a committee under the Advisory Committee on Women’s Affairs in Wellington.

It holds details of hundreds of women who are willing to have their names put forward for appointment to boards and tribunals.

To date, it had only been successful with four appointments. “We were particularly cross about appointments made to the New Zealand Industrial Design Council. “We had nominated a highly qualified and well thought of woman designer who lives in Wellington. She didn’t get in, but three company directors did. “We keep being told that we must be more realistic

because the appointees have probably been party supporters for the last 30 years or so,” Mrs Glendining said. Discussing the difficulties that face women in public office, Mrs Glendining said that in a totally masculine environment, a woman will often be with people of totally differing views and attitudes. She thinks that men don’t see things the way many women do because they don’t have the same responsibilities. “While they’re out ruling the world, we’re back at home doing all the things that need to be done.

“Is it really fair to encourage women to take part in such boring activities?” she asked. Then she proceeded to tell her audience why it was not only fair, it was necessary. “When women are in the same proportions as men in decision-making positions, goals will be different. “In councils, for instance, emphasis might be just as much on child care as it is on rubbish removal.”

Danna Glendining is encouraging local groups of women to work in with the Women’s Appointment File in monitoring local vacancies on official bodies, and to nominate local women for positions. This is apparently already happening in Hamilton.