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This report combines the 1996 census information with data from other sources and, where possible, provides comparative information on changes over the previous decade. The book also focuses on specific groups of women, notably Mäori women, whose position is described in some detail.
Women are the majority sex
Women outlive men As a group women are growing older Most women live in large urban centres Ethnic diversity of women is growing Women are marrying later De facto relationships are becoming more common Delayed childbearing and fewer children Two-parent family still predominates One-parent families on the increase Women's labour force participation grows Paid employment lower for women with young children Employment levels lower for Maori than non-Maori women Many women work part-time Women's employment concentrated in service industries Unemployment higher for women than men Women's self-rated health worse than men's Health status of Maori women lower Cancer - leading cause of death among females More women than men have disabilities Women are continuing their education to higher levels Maori women have lower retention rates than non-Maori Traditional gender differences in subject choice remain Women are leaving school more educated than men Women are better qualified than in the past Women's incomes lower than men's Hours worked a major factor in women's lower incomes Receipt of income support higher for women than men Marked ethnic differentials in income Incomes lowest for women in one-parent families
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