The steering group meet on 21/7/08 in Sheffield again - please feel free to email us with comments on the agenda I hope to post soon. Things have been rather quiet on here since the May meeting as I've been submitting my theisis (hooray!) but will pick up now that's over with and my paperwork is somewhat tidied away! In the background we have been making progress with mentoring schemes and we're awaiting feedback from Women in Heritage who had a meeting at the beginning of June.
26/5/08
We're working through the responses and regular visitors will see a new 'Your Issues' page which has some quotes from the survey. Regarding the wish for a women's group and what to focus on, here are some more quotes:
'[A women’s group could be used for the] promotion of women in the workplace [...]. Some sort of help service/forum for those who are suffering, it is always better to share worries than deal with them alone and with such a specific type of people (female archaeologists) help will be much more specific.'
'More opportunities for part time work within commercial work. Pay scales between men and women to be the same, and based on merit.'
[A group could be used] to raise issues about gender in the work place and how these impact upon both male and female colleagues. To provide a forum for discussion and support for women archaeologists and information about rights.'
'To ‘remind’ employers of equal opportunities and to provide support advice for women in archaeology.'
'Open discussion of issues facing women in the discipline, and advocacy for women archaeologists but it is important that this is alongside other bodies campaigning for general pay and conditions etc, not a separatist agenda.'
We are listening... keep talking!
15/5/08
Following a reissue of the national mailing we have received many more responses. While web statistics are a bit difficult to provide with our current low-cost web package it appears we have had between 800 and 1000 visits in the last few days! In addition we have helped some women with work related queries and provided support. BAJR have offered to host a closed discussion forum for us on their website, special thanks to David Connolly!
19/4/08
Thank you to everyone who has completed the survey so far. They're coming in steadily and it's good to have such honesty in replies. Women are making use of both e-submissions and the post, either method is fine. Reponses show a variety of experiences and opinions which is fantastic! There are some areas of concern, yet also some positive experiences - keep them coming..........
