Feminisation of the Labour Force

Feminisation of the Australian Workforce

In a globalised world, organisations must invest in a diversity of talent and dedication in their workforce. Ideas presented in the article ‘The Changing Male Breadwinner Model in Australia: a New Gender Order?’ (Broomhill and Sharp 2005) regarding the role of women in the Australian workforce and changes in the previously dominant male breadwinning model, will be the focus for this critical analysis. These changes have been driven by neoliberal and workforce restructuring, the breakdown of traditional family values, and social forces. The extent to which the male breadwinner model has changed and the impact of each of these issues on the Australian workforce, will be analysed.

The article presents an argument that the male breadwinner model, occurring when ‘a man is the only, or the primary breadwinner in a couple family’ (Broomhill and Sharp 2005, p. 103) remains structurally strong in contemporary Australian society, though less dominant and in diverse forms. The initial strength of the model in the post-war Australian workforce was influenced greatly by the implementation of Keynesian economic policies, a highly centralised industrial relations system and conservative politics, which formed the basis for the male breadwinner model (Broomhill and Sharp 2005). This view is supported by Probert (2002) who believes there was general approval that women remained financially dependent on men and virtually powerless.

However, overtime economic growth led to demand for labour and the state became increasingly involved with neoliberal policies and the development of a welfare structure which allowed women greater freedom to enter the workforce (Broomhill and Sharp 2005). However, this is disputed by Probert (2002, p. 15) who claims that during the 1900s the government played a ‘fairly minor role in supporting the work roles of mothers’ by introducing a parenting allowance at ‘such a low level that it had no impact’. Despite...