Activity on Gender Equality

This Cafe Charges an 18% 'Man Tax' to Highlight Gender Pay Gap

The owners of Victorian cafe, Handsome Her, have found themselves at the centre of a polarizing debate after its introduction of an 18 per cent "gender surcharge" for its male customers.

The vegan cafe in Melbourne's inner north suburb of Brunswick, which labels itself as a cafe "by women, for women" stipulates three anti-patriarchal "house rules," including priority seating for women, a premium charge for males and respect for both genders.

"House Rules, Rule #1: women have priority seating. Rule #2: men will be charged an 18% premium to reflect the gender pay gap (2016) which is donated to a women's service. Rule #3 respect goes both ways," the chalkboard reads in the cafe.

While Handsome Her's main goal is to help give back to women's charities, according to Broadsheet Melbourne who spoke to owner Alexandra O'Brien, it also hopes that the initiative that runs for one week every month will help spark conversations about the gender pay gap.

The first round of money raised from the optional "man tax" of 70 cents - is being donated to the Elizabeth Morgan House. A Victoria-based service that specializes in support for Indigenous women and children who have endured family violence.

"I do want people to think about it, because we've had this [pay discrepancy] for decades and decades and we're bringing it to the forefront of people's minds. I like that it is making men stop and question their privilege a little bit," owner O'Brien told the publication.

Many praised the initiative, while others labelled it reverse gender discrimination.

The team at Handsome Cafe are not the first to address gender disparity with a divisive price structure. Students at the University of Queensland last year gave women discounts at a bake sale during Feminist Week.

"Specific to each faculty, each baked good will only cost you the proportion of $1 that you earn comparative to men (or, if you identify as a man, all baked goods will cost you $1)," reported ABCat the time.

Resource: 

https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/restaurants-bars/handsome-her-cafe-in-brunswick-melbourne-charges-men-18-gender-gap-surcharge/news-story/81fc5074b7e9be8aa05240f157774e31

Additional activities:
http://www.genderprinciples.org/quick_quiz.php

1.  Would you visit this café? Why/why not?
2. What is the main purpose of such activity?
3. Should there be more places like that?
4. Are the responsibilities of a mother the same as the responsibilities of a father to their families?

5. Are there different expectations for sons and daughters?
6. Are more teachers female or male?
7. What do people think of men or women crying?
8. When a woman and a man are together, who does most of the talking?