WOMEN'S groups across the region are meeting this week to encourage and empower each other in anticipation of International Women's Day this Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Women's Health Loddon Mallee is holding a breakfast on Wednesday to celebrate women's achievements while calling for greater equality.
The organisation's chief executive Linda Beilharz said International Women's Day was about the issue of equality between the sexes.
"We still have inequality but it's become more subtle and so it's actually harder to name," Ms Beilharz said.
"There's a lot of things we accept as normal which are actually unequal or unfair."
Ms Beilharz said the gender pay gap was a form of inequality that still existed between the sexes.
She there was often "unconscious bias" on the part of employers when hiring young males and females with the same experience level, or traditionally feminine jobs, like caring work, which were paid less than other types of work.
There's a lot of things we accept as normal which are actually unequal.
- Linda Beilharz
Progress, Ms Beilharz said, was being made online, where women had the opportunity to raise awareness about their experiences, giving new voices to the issue.
Women's Health Loddon Mallee deals specifically with the relationship between gender equity and the prevention of violence against women.
"We're looking at it largely at the community attitudes level," Ms Beilharz said.
"Respecting women, understanding the broad range of ways of being that women can be, not limiting ourselves to stereotypes."
The Axedale Country Women's Association will have a morning tea on Thursday, with guest speakers talking on the topic of "embracing empowerment".
Association vice president Carolyn Bathurst said the event had a particular focus on older, retired women whose identity was tied closely to their career.
"It's confronting when you leave your career, it's quite a confronting issue to fall back on your own resources," Ms Bathurst said.
The Country Women's Association wants to support retired women to still have a voice and a presence in their community, and be proud of what they've accomplished in their life.
The Axedale morning tea is from 10am to midday and costs $6. For more information call 0481 357 287.
On International Women's Day itself, there's an event at Lake Weeroona to recognise women who work or volunteer for emergency services.
It is organised by the CFA, SES, City of Greater Bendigo, Macedon Ranges and Mount Alexander Shire councils.
The three councils are providing transport to and from the event to ensure as many people can come as possible.
Call 0428 271 052 to book a bus seat.