Category Archives: Equality

Why is it Different for Girls?

Posted on October 4, 2012 by Athene Donald

Some horrible statistics to kick off today’s post: nearly half of English maintained (state) coeducational schools don’t send a single girl on to do physics A level.  That’s right, nearly half (strictly speaking 49%).  When I was first sent this … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Equality, Women in Science | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

Jobsworthiness and Horror Stories in Equality

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Athene Donald

The policeman at the centre of ‘Gategate’, who may or may not have been called a pleb by the Conservative Chief Whip, has been called in the press a ‘jobsworth’, a term certainly not complimentary even if not in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Equality, Women in Science | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

Get a Wife!

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Athene Donald

This useful phrase seems to be the advice proffered by one physicist – male of course – to questions about how to succeed in an academic career.  It says a lot about what may go wrong for women also trying … Continue reading →

Posted in Equality, Women in Science | Tagged , , , , | 48 Comments

I Am Not A Bimbo

Posted on August 13, 2012 by Athene Donald

 Not so long ago I read a distressed ‘rant’  about being catcalled in London, from a woman who seemed persistently to be subjected to it – and worse. Alice voiced her anger and her misery in detail and provoked a … Continue reading →

Posted in Equality, Women in Science | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments

Staffing Matters

Posted on August 9, 2012 by Athene Donald

How good are Universities as places of employment? The THE ran a couple of stories last week, headed ‘higher education staffing’, looking at the age distribution of academic staff, and the gender pay gap. I don’t think either of these … Continue reading →

Posted in Equality | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments