What do EEO and Barbecues have in common?

 

 

May 2006

 

What have BBQs and EEO got in common?

 

Possible answers:

1. They’re both abbreviations
2. They’re both acronyms
3. They’re both connected to Aussie Prime Minister John Howard

 

The latest edition of the Macquarie Dictionary includes the expression “barbecue stopper” with the definition: “a topic of conversation or issue for discussion which is of general concern, especially one of political significance.” And the dictionary goes on to say that “barbecue stopper” was coined by Prime Minister John Howard in 2002. Well, either by him or one of his staff, but certainly the first recorded usage is by the Australian Prime Minister.

 

When John Howard used the term barbecue stopper he was referring to battles many people have in balancing work pressures against family responsibilities. He said reconciling work and family responsibilities was a “barbecue stopper” which occurs when someone has a sausage positioned on the bread smothered with tomato sauce and is nudged from behind by another person who wants to ear bash them on the subject work/life balance.

 

The “barbecue stopper” was referred to by the Australian Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner Pru Goward at a recent forum at the Human Rights Commission in Auckland. She talked about the challenges of equality and referred to work/life balance in the context of the continuing battle for women’s economic security. The other three challenges were the perennial issues of women’s health and reproductive rights, violence against women and women and leadership. 

 

Meetings to hear about work/life balance issues for men,women and families have been held throughout Australia and the final report on the Striking the Balance Project undertaken by the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission will be released near the end of 2006. The discussion paper is available here.