Inadvertedly, a few weeks ago I booked for a “Chicksflicks” screening of the movie “Mamma Mia”. I enjoyed the movie very much, and on the upside was presented with a “goodies bag” of, apparently, appropriate items. In contrast, tonight I went along to a “men’s night” focussed on men’s parenting, where there was also a “goodies bag”.
Though the “women’s bag” was focussed on sweets and “other specials”, the “men’s bag” was far more focussed on healthier optionsm possibly because it was partly sponsored by the “Men’s Health” magazine. Did I miss the memo about “Hemp Infused” soft drink?
The men’s bag was a welcome addition to a terrific discussion about parental leave equality, and the launch of an exhibition called “Aussie Dads” by the same photographer who did an exhibition called “Swedish Dads”. Both exhibitions focussed on the wonderful intimacy father’s can have with their children in the first few years of life.
Unlike Sweden which has equal rights for either parent to take paid leave when they have children, Australia has some way to go. It exists, but it’s not uniform and widespread. Despite the apparent equality in Sweden, only thirty percent of men take it.
The men who spoke about their children and fathering did so with passion. Though some way to go, the world is changing.
A night earlier, I attended the launch of some research about LGBTIQ inclusion in the workplace, by the Diversity Council of Australia. I actually participated in the research, which sought to better understand how things stood in Australia.
Though there’s a view sexuality shouldn’t be an issue in the workplace, the research rightly pointed out people talk about their families all the time at work, and can take leave to care for children etc. But if your workplace isn’t supportive, people who are LGBTIQ, will often “carry on regardless” or leave. It’s a “business issue”, we were told, and I thought it was fascinating to hear the stories of where large companies like Deloitte’s and Qantas, appear to have more progressively supportive actives then parts of the public sector.
And in stark contrast, my Monday night went from learning about LGBTIQ workplace inclusion to seeing Rugby League The Musical. It’s kinda like the footy show, but funny, as Denis performs as different characters, affectionate taking the piss out of the sport and it’s characters.
Though I’ve seen the show before, Denis keeps updating it, because not a week goes by without more material.
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