September 11, 2013
New Zealand women in public life, by the numbers
Statistics New Zealand is marking 120 years of women’s suffrage with a nice little infograph (click to enlarge).
The graphics are a recent development, and long may they continue (and that the print media and teachers make the most of them). The last SNZ graphic I saw marked the birth of a certain baby called George, and looked at a range of facts and figures to do with child-rearing in New Zealand.
Atakohu Middleton is an Auckland journalist with a keen interest in the way the media uses/abuses data. She happens to be married to a statistician. See all posts by Atakohu Middleton »
Wow, I’m surprised to see that the first female government statistician was only employed this year. Makes me wonder how many more such firsts are still to come.
11 years ago
She isn’t “the first female government statistician”. She is the first female chief executive of Statistics New Zealand. And not actually a statistician.
11 years ago
Ah, I didn’t realise that “Government Statistician” is a specific role within Statistics New Zealand that’s occupied by a single person at a time, and doesn’t just refer to any statistician employed by the government.
http://www.stats.govt.nz/about_us/our-structure-and-values/our-government-statistician.aspx
11 years ago
Here’s a link to the stats nz page: http://www.stats.govt.nz/about_us/statistics2013/120-years-suffrage.aspx
11 years ago
In 1893, 39% of higher education students were female compared to 24% in 1953.
It seems a bit odd.
According to data from here
UNIVERSITY RECORDS
http://shadowsoftime.co.nz/university.html
30.9% of 55 graduates were women in 1893 (some graduates got two degrees in that year but I just counted them once).
19.7% of 1048 graduates were women in 1953 (With about 14 names where sex couldn’t be identified and excluded).
I would have thought the lack of males after WWII would have meant more women in university but I guess that without a (potential) husband they didn’t have the (potential) finances.
The descrepancy between university graduates and higher ed is probably explained by teaching and nursing not being degree courses in 1953 … but in 1893?
11 years ago
Hi Megan, I asked Statistics New Zealand for a clarification, and here’s what they say:
“Thank you for the comment and the interest in the infographic.
“Both the 1893 and 1953 figures in the infographic were sourced from the Education section of the New Zealand Official Year Book which gives us a snapshot in time rather than comparable time series.
“The 1893 figure represents the number of females described as “keeping terms” at the New Zealand University and the 1953 figure represents females “attending lectures” and “exempt students” in higher education.”
Here are the links to the 1894 figures and to the 1955 figures.
… don’t you love that phrase ‘keeping terms!’
11 years ago