IWD: Let's celebrate (and do better)

Editor's note

On International Women’s Day, we launch a global series on the impact of the #MeToo movement, with contributions from The Conversation teams in the US, Canada, France, Africa, Indonesia and Spain on how the global movement has affected a particular aspect of life in their own countries. In Australia, Bianca Fileborn examines how the movement has changed the way violence against women is written about in the media - including social media. She writes that although the impact has been significant, there is still a long way to go.

It’ll take a very long time until we’ve as many women as men working as chief executives - about 80 years, or the rest of the century until 2100 according to new research by Rebecca Cassells and Alan Duncan. They’ve examined rates of progress industry by industry and identified what’s holding us back.

Recently, ecologist Arian Wallach took a detailed look at her CV – and realised it was gender-biased. She counts only a few women scientists among recent grant collaborators and publication co-authors. Now she’s on a mission to improve the diversity in her professional networks, and has a clear plan in mind: reach out to and work with women at every reasonable opportunity.

Amanda Dunn

Section Editor: Politics + Society

Top story

Though #MeToo has changed some aspects of media reporting, there is still much to be done. Wes Mountain/The Conversation

#MeToo has changed the media landscape, but in Australia there is still much to be done

Bianca Fileborn, University of Melbourne; Rachel Loney-Howes, University of Wollongong; Sophie Hindes

The #MeToo movement brought to light the extent of sexual violence in the community, largely through the media. But there is still a long way to go to overturn stereotypes and shut down online abuse.

Things are changing quickly in lower management, but at the very top there remains a hard-to-attack barrier. Shutterstock

Gender equity. The way things are going, we won’t reach true parity until the 22nd century

Rebecca Cassells, Curtin University; Alan Duncan, Curtin University

The hard nuts to crack are getting women into chief executive positions and getting them paid as much.

Most of us make daily decisions about who we choose to work and collaborate with. So what if we used that to improve professional diversity? rawpixel / unsplash

My CV is gender biased. Here’s what I plan to do about it

Arian Wallach, University of Technology Sydney

A confession: I can count on a single hand the number of women I have invited to collaborate with me on publications and grants.

Business + Economy

Overworked and underpaid: the revival of strikes in New Zealand

Toby Boraman, Massey University

Last year, more than 70,000 workers walked off their jobs in New Zealand – the highest number of people on strike since the late 1980s. The reasons for the strike wave are political and economic.
It’s not about him: leading lessons from Manchester United’s caretaker manager

Mazlan Maskor, The University of Queensland

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's has revived one of sport's most revered brands. Here are some reasons for his leadership success.
Vital Signs: Australia’s sudden ultra-low economic growth ought not to have come as surprise

Richard Holden, UNSW

The treasurer says 2018 was a year of two halves, but there were signs of a downturn well before mid year.
Introducing gender lens investing. It’s more than pink-washing

Danielle Logue, University of Technology Sydney; Gillian McAllister, University of Technology Sydney

Gender lens analysis identifies risks and opportunities early. It is catching on.

Science + Technology

Women in STEM need your support – and Australia needs women in STEM

Lisa Harvey-Smith, UNSW

You can support career development by nominating a deserving scientist, innovator or science teacher for recognition through a prize or award.
Remember Blockbuster, Nirvana and pagers? The new Captain Marvel lives in the 1990s

Michael Milford, Queensland University of Technology; Peter Stratton, The University of Queensland

The new Captain Marvel movie takes us back to the 1990s with a look at some of the technologies of the day. Do people still use pagers?

Health + Medicine
Research Check: do we need to worry about glyphosate in our beer and wine? Ian Musgrave, University of Adelaide The amount of alcohol you'd have to drink before glyphosate posed even a negligible risk would harm you well before the glyphosate would.

Politics + Society

Grattan on Friday: Josh Frydenberg has a great job at the worst time

Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra

Both Gaetjens and Frydenberg might reflect, incidentally, that this, the first budget for each of them, is likely to be their last - if the opinion polls are right.
No matter who wins the next election, managing the China relationship will be tricky – and vital

Tony Walker, La Trobe University

No matter who forms government after the next election, managing Australia's relationship with China will continue to be a major challenge, and vitally important in a region remaking itself.
Māori and Pasifika leaders report racism in government health advisory groups

Heather Came, Auckland University of Technology; maria.haenga-collins@aut.ac.nz, Auckland University of Technology; Tim McCreanor, Massey University

Māori and Pasifika leaders' experience of racism in government advisory groups suggests ongoing inequities in New Zealand health policy.
Acting on gender-based violence must be a priority for the next federal government

Bianca Fileborn, University of Melbourne

Despite some progress in recent years in addressing gender-based violence, there is still a long way to go. A concerted and holistic approach is needed.
National Redress Scheme for child sexual abuse protects institutions at the expense of justice for survivors

Kathleen Daly, Griffith University; Juliet Davis, Griffith University

A year after it was introduced, the National Redress Scheme has strayed a long way from the recommendations of the royal commission.

Environment + Energy

Australia needs a national plan to face the growing threat of climate disasters

Robert Glasser, Australian National University

With heatwaves, droughts and fires all on the rise, the federal government is urged to merge its separate strategies on disaster resilience and climate readiness.
The dingo is a true-blue, native Australian species

Bradley Smith, CQUniversity Australia; Corey J. A. Bradshaw, Flinders University; Euan Ritchie, Deakin University; Justin W. Adams, Monash University; Kylie M Cairns, UNSW; Mathew Crowther, University of Sydney

Of all Australia’s wildlife, one stands out as having an identity crisis: the dingo. New research has found the dingo is its own species, distinct from 'wild dogs'.

Arts + Culture

Friday essay: rebooting the idea of ‘civilisation’ for Australian soil

Stephen Muecke, University of Adelaide

It's time for a more reasonable, hybrid definition of civilisation that incorporates our Indigenous heritage.
In Stephen Sewell’s charming Arbus and West, feminism boils to the surface

Sandra D'urso, University of Melbourne

One of Australia's most prominent playwrights has reimagined the infamous encounter between Hollywood icon Mae West and photographer Diane Arbus.
Don’t ban Michael Jackson’s music – talk about the accusations

Catherine Strong, RMIT University

Sexual abuse in the music industry is a systemic, ongoing problem that won’t be resolved by just hacking away at the canon.
New Zealand’s proposed capital gains tax could nudge taxpayers to invest in art instead of property

Jonathan Barrett, Victoria University of Wellington

Establishing artists could benefit if New Zealand introduces a proposed capital gains tax that excludes any profit made on the sale of collectables and artworks.

Cities
New home, new clothes: the old ones no longer fit once you move to the country Rachael Wallis, University of Southern Queensland Your identity changes when you move house and, if that's to a different community, your clothes change along with you.