What We Do

The National Council of Women is leading the Gender Equal NZ movement because we care about the experiences of all genders and believe in equality for all.

You can help grow and support the Gender Equal NZ movement to make equality a reality by becoming a member of the National Council of Women of New Zealand.

You can also make a donation.We rely on donations, fundraising and grants. Help us take one more step in the road to equality by donating today.

We have recently carried out New Zealand’s first Gender Attitudes Survey, which tested attitudes around gender roles – in the household, at school, at work and in the community and gives us a snapshot of where we’re at in New Zealand on gender. Find out more about the results here. Gender Equal NZ has two other major projects underway, find out more about them here.

Our Briefing to Incoming Ministers November 2017 provides more information about our current work programmes and goals as at November 2017.

Our white paper: Enabling Women’s Potential – the social, economic and ethical imperative, released in November 2015, provides more rationale for our work.

Gender Equal NZ kaupapa: Making equality, reality.

Where we once led in gender equality, New Zealand has now slipped to be ranked at 9th in the world. Did you know New Zealand has the worst reported rates of sexual and domestic violence in the whole OECD? Or that just one third of our MPs are women? 

It’s time for all of us to question the status quo. Most of the time, we’re given two options – you’re either a man or a woman. And being a man or a woman comes with these stereotypes about being a “real man” or a “real woman”. A real man is strong, earning lots and getting laid – right? A real woman is beautiful, a good cook and someone who looks after others – right? Well – not quite.

These ideas are limiting for all of us.  They don’t allow most people to express all of who we are.  The reality is that most people have both masculine and feminine characteristics, and that’s just fine. 

The unequal value attached to femininity and masculinity – we usually see this reduced to women and men – leads to unequal division of power, resources and therefore opportunities.

If we could break down these rigid expectations around gender, we’d create more room for everyone. Getting rid of the norms that cause gendered violence, pay inequality, the devaluing of caregiving work and parenting and inequalities in leadership roles – just to name a few outcomes – would change our world for the better.

Join the National Council of Women and help us to make equality, reality.

We are focusing on the four key areas of inequality

Our work targets four areas of inequality that prevent New Zealand from achieving a Gender Equal NZ.

  • safety and health – domestic and sexual violence, sexual and reproductive health, access to healthcare including abortion, and mental health issues
  • economic independence – poverty rates including minimum wage, occupational segregation, workplace participation, childcare, caregiving and unpaid work, and pay equity issues
  • education – gender roles and subjects, early childhood education supporting diversity, consent and healthy relationships programmes, and sexual and gender diversity
  • influence and decision making – rates of women in management, governance, leadership and decision-making roles in the political, private and voluntary sectors

 

You can help grow and support the Gender Equal NZ movement to make equality a reality by becoming a member of the National Council of Women of New Zealand.

You can also make a donation.We rely on donations, fundraising and grants. Help us take one more step in the road to equality by donating today.