What really is a woman's lot?

New Zealand - first country to give women the vote 109 years ago - is held up as a shining example of emancipation.

And, indeed, there is no doubt this country measures up well against other developed nations in how well women are doing.

When Helen Clark was re-elected, confirming a matriarchal triumvirate in power, there was a joke going around the bar-rooms that the only position women didn't occupy in New Zealand was the missionary position.

The sexologist's statistics lay that to rest, but there is no doubt that this country, at this time in our history, has a preponderance of women in the top jobs. Our Prime Minister, our Governor-General, our Chief Justice, all women.

And until the mega-merger of Fonterra knocked our biggest company, Telecom, into second place, we could claim the pinnacle of business, too, as a shining beacon of women's success.

But starting today, the Herald asks just how well, is well.

To test the theory against the reality, this newspaper has embarked on a week-long series to assess the true status of women in society. Why women?

Because they comprise 51 per cent of the population, because it's 30 years since equal pay legislation, because paid parental leave has just been adopted and, most importantly, because the role of women is critical to all New Zealanders and the type of society in which we bring up our children, male and female.

Women are still, most often, the primary care-givers and, in 29 per cent of homes with children, the sole caregivers.

The reality is that women make up between a quarter and a third of key decision-makers across our society. In the income stakes, they lag well behind.

Much of this disparity can be explained by their child-bearing and child-caring role, but statistically it's a long way from equality. What this means and whether it matters will be explored over the next week.

Herald writers gather the latest data and research, interview the experts and speak to everyday women for an insight into their cares and concerns. Our columnists and invited commentators join the debate.

And readers are invited to take part through our Letters columns.

Starting today we give men a say. Women's status is often measured against the markers of success for men - income, education, career - so in Weekend Review we get a bloke's view of the gender debate.

As with our special poll, also in Review, the results underline that perception and reality still have a wide divide to cross.

A STATISTICAL SNAPSHOT

* Women comprise 51 per cent of the population.

* Their average life expectancy is 81 years (men, 76).

* Their median earning level is $14,500 (men, $24,900).

At work



* Women's participation in the workforce is 47 per cent.


* Men in the workforce outnumber women in the 15-39 age group, but more women aged 40-59 are in paid work than men.


* 36 per cent of women work part-time (12% of men).


* 70 per cent of part-time workers are women.


* 61 per cent of mothers in two-parent families are employed.


* 12 per cent of women are self-employed (22% of men).


* 11 per cent of women work as legislators, administrators and managers (15% of men).


* One third more women than men travel by bus.


Education

* Fewer women than men have a postgraduate qualification, 31 per cent compared with 34 per cent. But in the 20-29 age group, 19 per cent of women have a degree or higher qualification compared with 14 per cent of men.

At home

* Women spend an average of 62 minutes a day on food and drink preparation and clean-up compared with men's 29 minutes.

* Women spend 61 minutes a day on cleaning and laundry compared with men's 15 minutes.

With child

* The median age of women giving birth is 29.9 years.

* 46% of women are having babies in their 30s.

* The rate of fertility is now under replacement level.

* 7 per cent of women receive the DPB compared with 1 per cent of men.

Read the rest of this series:
nzherald.co.nz/nzwomen