It's International Women's Day: Why are most carers women? What does this mean for us?

[Summer Rose]

Today is International Women's Day and to all the other women out there caring for a loved one with a mental health condition, I salute you. It's not easy, it's often thankless and, yet, it's vital to our families.

Make no mistake, our contribution is also vital to the economy. In 2015 there were 2.7 million unpaid carers in Australia. The replacement value of the unpaid care provided in 2015 was a whopping $60.3 billion--over $1 billion per week. More than two thirds of primary carers were women.

In return, our economic security is compromised making us more vulnerable. We receive less super and fewer opportunities for promotion, if we are lucky enough to manage work and caring. Given the foundation if inequity is economics, I think this says a lot about gender equality in Australia.

Why do you do it? Do you worry about your future? Are there more important "returns" that you receive? Should we be trying to bring about change? Have you tried and been successful? What do the men in your life have to say about this? Do we have a voice that reflects our contribution? And, if we don't, how do we get it?

[Just Sara]

A really worthy thread Summer! Well done and thankyou. 🙂

Here's the breakdown;

• In 2015 there were 2.7 million unpaid carers in Australia [1]
• Around 856,000 carers (32%) are primary carers, those who provide the most informal assistance to another individual [1]
• The replacement value of the unpaid care provided in 2015 was $60.3 billion - over $1 billion per week [2]
• The weekly median income of primary carers aged 15 - 64 was 42% lower than that of non-carers [1]
• More than two thirds of primary carers are female [1]
• The average age of a primary carer is 55 [1]
  272,000 carers are under the age of 25, which equates to around 1 in 10 [1]
• Almost all primary carers (96%) care for a family member [1]
• More than half (55%) of primary carers provide care for at least 20 hours per week [1]
• 56% of primary carers aged 15 - 64 participate in the workforce, compared to 80% of non-carers [1]
• It is estimated that carers provided 1.9 billion hours of unpaid care in 2015 [2]

(..Australian Bureau of Statistics (2015) Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers.
..Deloitte Access Economics (2015) The Economic Value of Informal Care in Australia 2015)

Most disability and aged care workers in the (paid) govt and NGO systems are women. I'd imagine for the same reason women are prominent in the unpaid sector. I don't know the reasons for this, but would surmise it has to do with their nurturing and giving nature.

Obviously there's going to be a backlash to this statement, so concerned members should post a rebuttal for balance. It's my personal view only and not that of any other source.

In the paid sector, men rise far more frequently thru the ranks. I find this an adaptation of the 'boys club' mentality from yesteryear. Yes, another feisty comment. I do have front line knowledge though which should give me some good standing.

And we shouldn't forget 'children' who provide ongoing support to loved ones. How many of them are girls? Will this affect their future prospects for employment and study?

Hope I haven't stirred the pot too vigorously..

Sez

[Guest8901]

Hi Summer Rose,

I was not aware that today was International Women's day. Thanks for the thread.

Yes I am also a carer, for my husband, who has both mental and physical health problems.

Women have traditionally played the caring and nurturing roles in life, I guess because it comes naturally to most of us. Initially with our children, then to partners and aging parents. It just seems to be a normal and accepted thing.

This is not to say that men lack the ability to care or nurture as well, because many of them do. But I think in our society it will always fall predominately to women to perform caring roles. Lets face it, we do it well.

No its never easy and its very often a very thankless task, but carers are a vital and much needed resource in a modern society.

Why do we do it? Because we care and because we can. Women have always been the ones to sacrifice personal goals and careers for the good of the family unit. Unfortunately its just the way things are. These days there are some financial compensation by way of carers payments and allowances. Its not a lot, but it does make continuing to be a carer possible financially.

Amanda

[Summer Rose]

Hi Mandy8

Thank you for your post. You've provided some really interesting comments.

I totally agree--women have traditionally played the caring and nurturing roles in life. But don't you ever wonder why it seems to always be women who make the sacrifices to provide proper care to others? (If any men out there want to challenge this statement, please do!)

My husband loves our daughter as much as I do. When she fell ill we were both devastated and we both showered her with love. But love wasn't going to be enough, somebody had to take on the primary caring responsibility. Why was it me who left paid work to care for her?

It wasn't about money. I was working as a well paid executive at a large corporation. My husband was running our family business and another family member could have taken the helm. It wasn't about capability--my husband is a caring, loving, capable guy. It certainly wasn't about commitment--we were both 100 per cent committed to helping her heal.

It was simply about expectation. There actually wasn't even any discussion about it in our home. I don't believe it ever crossed my husband's mind that he would take on the responsibility.

My career prospects and future earning potential were forever changed the day I resigned. Eventually I did re-enter the workforce, but at our family business where I could have part time hours and enjoy unlimited flexibility to come and go as required in order to make sure our daughter was supported. I know how lucky I am to have this arrangement.

I love my girl and I would not change her. I would not change the decisions I have made because our family made it through the darkness intact and my daughter is in recovery. I simply resent the expectation.

My 22 year old son has a caring nature; I see this in the way he protects his sister, undertakes volunteer work and cares for his friends. I praise him for this every chance I get. Perhaps if men could see the value in caring, more of them would participate?

[startingnew]

thank you for creating this thread Summer and thank you Sez for all those statistics, as a carer i wasnt all that aware of them.

[Summer Rose]

Hi starting new

Thanks for your post. You raise a really good point that as carers we aren't particularly connected with others. Caring seems to be something that quietly goes on behind the scenes in homes across the nation.

I found it amazing to learn that carers made a $60.3 billion contribution to the economy in 2015. One measure of the importance of an industry is its contribution to the Australian economy (the size of the Australian economy is typically described in terms of gross domestic product or GDP). The Australian Bureau of Statistics most recent Year Book (2012) shows that agriculture, forestry and fishing contributed $31 billion, electricity, gas, water and waste services contributed $29 billion and information media and telecommunications contributed $42 billion to the economy that year.

I know I'm not comparing apples with apples and I'm looking at different years (only because I know this ABS report and it was easy to find!) but I want to make the point that the contribution of carers is significant. It does, however, come at enormous personal cost and I wonder how many Australians and/or politicians actually get that.

[white knight]

Hi all, from a male prespective.

I totally agree with all whats said above except-

I don't agree political representation should be based on gender at all. Candidates should get there on their own merits not selected by big parties because their female numbers are lower than mens. That isn't equality, that's favouring women and that is not what equality is all about.

Finally, It has only been 50 years in history since the burn the bra commencement of the womens movement. Many men like me have endorsed women's push to be equal. However, I'm 61yo and I've had to endure this rather quick change from a male dominated household (same as my friends and relatives households) to a non dominated one. The natural inclination of using braun by way of a louder voice or the ultimate decision maker means standing over a woman which thankfully those changes have been made. But not all men can change so quickly. If I compare myself in 2018 to 1977 at 21yo there has been a huge difference for the better.

Losing this instinctual dominance is not easy, a total transformation of ATTITUDE is required. In an ideal world men need another generation or two in which to complete the transformation. A good example of this is at 19yo I was totally homophobic like all my RAAF mates. Now? I treat gay as equal and adore them not unlike any other person. But I still have friends my age that detest those members of our society...sadly

Change is good but expecting fast change is not realistic.

Tony WK

[Summer Rose]

You've come a long way, White Knight!

I like the way you explained "instinctual dominance", gives us women something to think about. It's a good reminder too that women AND men struggle at times with the notion of equality, albeit for different reasons. We are in this together, like it or not. Thanks for sharing.