• Quarterly Essay 75: Men at Work

  • Australia's Parenthood Trap
  • By: Annabel Crabb
  • Narrated by: Annabel Crabb
  • Length: 2 hrs and 55 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (27 ratings)

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Quarterly Essay 75: Men at Work  By  cover art

Quarterly Essay 75: Men at Work

By: Annabel Crabb
Narrated by: Annabel Crabb
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Publisher's summary

When New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, announced her pregnancy, the headlines raced around the world. But when Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg became the first prime minister and treasurer duo since the 1970s to take on the roles while bringing up young children, this detail passed largely without notice. Why do we still accept that fathers will be absent? Why do so few men take parental leave in this country? Why is flexible and part-time work still largely a female preserve?

In the past half-century, women have revolutionised the way they work and live. But men’s lives have changed remarkably little. Why? Is it because men don’t want to change? Or is it because, every day in various ways, they are told they shouldn’t?

In Men at Work, Annabel Crabb deploys political observation, workplace research and her characteristic humour and intelligence to argue that gender equity cannot be achieved until men are as free to leave the workplace (when their lives demand it) as women are to enter it.

'Women’s surge into the workplace has been profound over the last century. But it hasn’t been matched by movement in the other direction: while the entrances have been opened to women, the exits are still significantly blocked to men. And if women have benefited from the sentiment that ‘girls can do anything’, then don’t we similarly owe it to the fathers, mothers and children of the future to ensure that ‘boys can do anything’ means everything from home to work?'

Updated in 2020 with a new afterword, which explores what have we learned from the parental experiment of the COVID-19 lockdowns.

©2019, 2020 Annabel Crabb (P)2019 Audible Australia Pty Ltd.

What listeners say about Quarterly Essay 75: Men at Work

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Annabel rocks

Excellent study of this important social issue from a different point of view which is very significant. Well worth listening to👍

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Outstanding

Such a great essay and brilliantly narrated by the author! Fascinating issues and thought provoking

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 07-19-20

great as usual

made me think in a new way and engage on a topic I've thought about a lot already

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  • Oscar Bell
  • 09-29-19

a great looks at an intrinsic paradigm

loved this essay, with a 9 week old in our house and a wife that has a higher salary then me, it has sparked our thinking and opened discussion.

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  • James
  • 09-28-19

A thorny issue tackled with wit and thoughtfulness

Crabb has a characteristic voice when talking about issues of gender which seems carefully calibrated to avoid charges of misandry. I think she does very well with this approach, coming across as very reasonable and thoughtful without falling into the opposite trap of both-sidesing the issue and watering down her perspective. It also doesn't hurt that she's very funny and self-aware, which makes listening to this essay enjoyable.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 09-19-19

The century for men’s liberation

Such an important conversation at the beginning of the century for men’s liberation. Thank you Annabel Crabb and to all the great researchers you draw on.

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 09-05-21

everyone should read this

what a fantastic piece of research! I want everyone to read this, particularly people in HR in organisations. well written and researched!

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  • Anonymous User
  • 10-23-19

Culture change

I really enjoyed listening to this essay. I loved that it's in Annabel's own voice and I found her research, information and interviews interesting and thought provoking. I've recommended it to a few people, and have emphasised even if they don't have children, the concept of challenging and changing the status quo and how this is done, is one of the important messages that I took from this essay.

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  • Mickslan
  • 07-13-22

Well worth a listen

I've not always been a fan of some of the pieces Annabelle has written for the ABC, but I thought this essay was well written and narrated examing the issue from multiple facets with thoughtful insights.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 07-03-22

Review

It makes perfect sense ... focus on everyone nor just women. Now to get someone to listen!

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  • Michelle Stanton
  • 04-27-22

Engaging look at the other side of the coin

As always, Annabel comes at a familiar topic from a new and refreshing angle. As a mum who did the stay at home gig for the first 3 back in the 1990s then did the working mum gig with the surprise package just 5 years ago, I have some experience in this area. I would have dearly loved to have given my husband a go at staying at home but it wasn't financially viable or indeed available for him. Sad, really. He's a wonderfully committed dad. Not until we have an even playing field will either gender get a fair go.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 03-11-22

Essential Reading for Parents

LOVED this book. Annabel Crabb has more than earned her great reputation with this essay. Her points are backed by research for the logical and anecdotes for those who prefer a more personal approach to reasoning, and the points made are easy to follow and fascinating. The results are kind of bleak, but all the more reason for this book to be soaked up by as many employers and their employed, as possible. It gives me real hope for the future, especially as someone yet to enter the full time work force.
Annabel Crabb has a very clear and pleasant voice, and it was nice to hear her read her own writing as she knew the best words to emphasise (important for those who are neuroatypical).

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  • Loopy
  • 11-02-21

Does 2021 change anything?

Appreciated the thesis of this book, particularly the research which went into its execution. However I felt sorely left out at the conclusion - our "world's most lockdown city" status certainly defied this conclusion by the end of 2021. I'd love to hear an updated critial conclusion from the author for a pathway forward over the longer-term.

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