I was intrigued by discussions amongst colleagues about the (possible) unfairness of the fact that the BFWG offers funding only to female graduate students so I blogged about the issue here. I would always describe myself as a feminist. Certain issues concerning women's rights are so stark that it's hard to find any room for argument or debate. By comparison, any concerns feminists might feel about UK issues are likely to seem less pressing. The ’double shift' is one possible area which still leaves room for improvement and there are other contexts in which women may be discriminated against, perhaps at an unconscious level. Discourse, particularly in the blogosphere, is often irritatingly sexist - hardly a life and death issue but it can become wearing.

But there are some areas where both women and men may, in different ways, feel disadvantaged. The assumption that women are more suited to childcare, for example, may work against the interests of both sexes. On Harry’s Place someone suggests that women may prefer to remain unpromoted, focusing on teaching rather than bureaucracy. One might respond by arguing that society encourages women not to push themselves, not to aspire to the kind of job which is both more lucrative and more demanding. But this argument can be turned round. Both my father and my father- in-law felt they had to give up their preferred poorly paid (but very interesting) career ambitions in order to go into business and support their families.

Going back to academia, even if it can be demonstrated that there are systemic biases or barriers facing women, targeting money at postgraduates just because they happen to be female might not be the most nuanced solution. It might be better to ‘drill down’ to work out exactly why and when women fall behind and address the proximate cause – perhaps childcare.

UPDATE

Here's a little example of discrimination against men. If female parents seem to get a raw deal in the work place sometimes - male parents appear to be far more blatantly discriminated against when it come to parenting/childcare. Scroll down to the sleeping arrangements bit.