News briefs
Women with MBAs still not advancing as quickly as men: study
MONTREAL (CUP) - A RECENT STUDY conducted by non-profit women’s opportunity organization Catalyst indicated that Canadian women graduating with a master’s of business administration degree start out with lower salaries than their male counterparts, with a gap that widens over the course of their careers.
Christine Silva, director of research at Catalyst and co-author of the study, explained that biases in the job market begin at entry-level positions. She said that certain assumptions about the roles of women, their aspirations for a family, and other stereotypes can play a role in the way management views female employees.
The study noted that 40 per cent of the workforce is female, but women represent less than 14 per cent of corporate executives of top global companies and only three per cent at Fortune 500 companies.
The study pointed to a problem with equality in the workplace, where women with MBAs will often work at an entry level whereas men will receive jobs in mid-level positions. On average, women earned $4,600 less in their first job than did men.
—Renne Giblin, The Concordian
Health Canada approves HPV vaccine for men
WINNIPEG (CUP) - HEALTH CANADA HAS approved the use of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Gardasil for men. Merck Frosst was granted authorization by the federal government on Feb. 22 to market Gardasil to boys and men aged nine to 26. Health Canada approved the use of Gardasil in women ages nine to 26 in 2006.
Dr. Andy Potter, director of the University of Saskatchewan’s Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, explained that the use of Gardasil in men isn’t new and that men should be vaccinated not just to protect themselves, but to stop the spread of the virus along with the prevention of warts and certain types of cancer.
Dr. Bob Lotocki, program director of the Manitoba Cervical Cancer Screening Program, indicated that all age groups are at risk for contracting HPV, with 75 per cent of the population being exposed to it at some point during their life.
Lotocki also recommended that women should still have regular Pap tests, as the vaccine is not fully protective on its own.
—Ashley Gaboury, CUP Central Bureau Chief
