Women In The Workforce

Tuesday, 17 May 2011
11:09 AM

While education for boys and girls was compulsory, the direction the education took was different.
Girls were educated to be wives and mothers; they were taught basic commercial skills along with domestic arts such as sewing and cooking. Being in the paid workforce was 'filling in the time' between leaving school and getting married. Despite the discrimination, increasing numbers of girls did complete a secondary education and even attending university.
The minimum male wage, also known as the basic wage, was calculated on what was financially required to support a wife and three children. On average, women were paid half the rate that men were paid. Wage decisions made by the Arbitration Court reinforced society's view that a women's place was in the home.