Re: “Men-only social club proposed,” September 12
Greg Haydu is quoted as saying he has “been launched into” for spearheading the Goldfields Social Club. He states “he doesn’t mind having that conversation.” I wonder if he has heard this point of view.
The Goldfields Social Club perpetuates an inequity that already exists by allowing the “old boys network” to be alive and well and continue to cut women out of business networking opportunities.
There is no clearer illustration of the economic inequality between men and women than the difference between the men’s social club and the Nelson and District Women’s Centre (the closest example I can think of a women’s-only gathering space in our community). The men’s club fee is $3,000. The women’s centre’s fee is $15 to $40 with an option for volunteering for those who can’t afford any amount.
The centre is a gathering space for women and various women’s groups. It serves many women who need food, clothing or other support, including emotional support due to a variety of issues such as experiencing violence and poverty.
It is no coincidence that women make 70 cents on the male dollar and that women are not paid equally for work of equal value (care to compare and contrast an early childhood educator’s salary to that of a powerline technician, for example?).
I don’t begrudge men the opportunity to gather and share each other’s company, but I strongly encourage individual members and indeed the “Club” to consider donating five per cent of their would-be fees to the women’s centre to help combat violence against women in our local community. After all men are largely the benefactors of the economic inequality that we live with in our society.
Jane Byers
Nelson
