Make or break: Women, work and the social contract in Australia

The social contract for women and work is in a state of flux, perhaps even broken, and remains so post-COVID. In this lecture, gender and employment relations expert Marian Baird will consider the notion of the social contract, and embedded within it, the gender contract of work and care. Using reference to the flow of work throughout Australian women’s life courses, professor Baird considers policy responses, omissions and suggestions for change at each of the points of greatest gender inequality.

About Professor Baird

Marian Baird teaches gender and employment relations and is the director of the Women, Work and Policy Research Group at the University of Sydney Business School. Her research focuses on women and work and policy responses at all levels, including unions, business and governments. Her current research projects are on gender and inclusion in Australian universities, the aging workforce and the female body at work. She has contributed to the development of government and company policies on maternity and parental leaves, flexibility, discrimination and the aging workforce. 

This lecture is hosted by the Department of Human Ecology and co-sponsored by the Department of Sociology and Intersections of Gender.