Evolution of the Female

[Mad Lews]

I'm not sure how you come to the conclusion, Mad--that it's women's fault that tertiary education is becoming undervalued.

That’s not exactly what I said Alex, it’s a matter of supply and demand. The idea that “everyone” should have a tertiary education cheapens its worth that has nothing to do with gender. The fact that women were kept out of the education and work pool in prior times just means that they are the new majority entering these pools at a time of growing surplus.

Here, in Australia, many women and now choosing to become tradespersons--and I use that terminology simply because many women are now choosing to become plumbers, electricians, carpenters, etc..

Yes, I agree that "The financial value of a BA verses a trade school degree is on the way to inverting." But I think it has little to do with women per se. Here, cash strapped universities compete for enrolments, and so the level of entry has dropped considerably. On the other hand, a couple of decades tightening regulations has discouraged many employers from taking on apprentices (here it's virturally impossible to sack an apprentice) and that has causes the number of tradies to simply drop quite dramatically. Supply doesn't always equal demand across the workforce and a shortage of anything will push the price up. Try trying to get plumber to come to your home, here in the land down under--and when you do manage to find one you better have your gold Amex handy.

Yup that is more or less the gist of my argument. Trade shortage drives up the price, trade surplus drives it down.

Now, this is a really interesting observation. I believe in some more forward thinking countries this problem is being addressed by men and women working shorter hours for the same hourly rate. What a great idea! Why should a man have to work 40 plus hours a week to come home too tired to enjoy his family? And, why should a woman be shackled to the home and not encouraged to use her intelligent and education?

You mean like the French, and Swedes? This brings up the question of “What is work?” and how does it relate to money? At a basic economic level, work is the ability to create value. money is a universal trading system for labor IE the creation of value. If you look at those ‘Progressive’ countries that dictate shorter working hours and regulate a higher pay standard you find unemployment rates in the double digits and up around 25% for those trying to enter the job market (the youth).

Yours
Mad Lews