Hidden Health Hazards in Womens Work
Article Type: Suggested readings From: Human Resource Management International Digest, Volume 18, Issue 2
Edited by Celia BriarDunmore Press2009ISBN: 9781877399442
This is a book that every woman working in a senior management position,every person who is responsible for the occupational health and safety of employees and all who believe in meritocracy or that workplace equality for women has been achieved, needs to read. For those of us who are already attentive to workplace discrimination against women, it provides a comprehensive but sobering analysis of the issues.
The book tackles three myths related to women’s employment: women’s work is safer than men’s; women work less than men and so have less exposure to work-related health hazards; and women and men are equally well covered by existing health and safety measures.
The first three chapters set out the evidence that both paid and unpaid work are hazardous for women. Comparisons are made to, and recent literature cited from, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA. The second three chapters provide case studies in the areas of new mothers, community-based care-givers and academia. The final two chapters focus upon recommendations for employers and for public policy, and implications for population health.
Chapter 1 challenges the assumption that women’s employment is safer than men’s. Occupational health and safety risks are outlined for women in female-dominated, mixed-gender, male-dominated occupations and in relation to unpaid caring and domestic work.
Chapter 2 considers effort and reward imbalances in relation to women’s work and incomes. The author argues, for example, that changes in the gender pay gap have not resulted from improved pay and employment status for women, but from falling male wages. The author outlines health risks to women from unequal opportunities (downward occupational mobility, job stress and time pressures)and unsupportive working environments (bullying, violence and discrimination).
Chapter 3 examines stress, depression, burn-out, musculo-skeletal disorders,work-related cancers, reproductive-health outcomes, accidents and occupational infections. The author reveals that, while male life expectancy is increasing,that for women is stalling.
Chapters 4-6 provide case studies from New Zealand. Of particular interest is Alison Kirkman’s research into female community dementia-care workers employed by Alzheimers New Zealand. Their work is poorly paid, part time,uncertain and carries high significant emotional demands. Such characteristics often go hand in hand with poor employee health, yet the care workers’health is better than of many women doing similar work elsewhere. Key reasons appear to be that the women have a lot of control over how and when they do their job, a sense of job satisfaction and good support networks. Moreover, the women seem to recognize that, however demanding their work, it is not as hard as that of family carers.
Chapter 7 targets employers, employees and unions. It provides examples of best practice and suggestions for inclusive gender-sensitive health and safety in the workplace.
The final chapter focuses on the role of government. Women are more dependent on government policies for their health and well being than are men. Women are also more likely to be members of the working poor. The author considers the importance of single-parent benefits, tax credits, minimum-wage legislation,universal child benefits, pay-equity and anti-discrimination policies and policies to promote a better work-life balance.
The final section briefly considers women’s health in relation to economic policy and the global economic crisis.
Reviewed by Suzanne Phibbs, School of Health and Social Services, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
A longer version of this review was originally published in Gender in Management: an International Journal, Vol. 24 No. 6, 2009.
