Equality is not all about gender
05 November 2012

 
I was once 'sacked' for being pregnant and re-employed at my grade and salary three months after the baby was born. The HR department involved did not realise either the illegality of their action or the sheer inanity of explaining that they couldn’t handle “exceptional” circumstances – which is apparently what I was as a senior pregnant executive. 

To be fair to them, in this particular multinational, if it was wearing a skirt in a senior meeting, it was me….

The report on the status of women in research (in the November issue of Research magazine) is not discouraging compared to problems that still persist in, for example finance and engineering, it leaves no room for complacency. We need to innovate and champion diversity if we are to attract and retain the best people. 

I recommend the findings and approaches of the Mentoring Foundation, Opportunity Now and UKRC (previously Women in Science and Engineering) with their practical low cost approaches, many of which concentrate on building confidence for women and simply creating self-awareness in senior management.

Equality is not all about gender and I leave you with the thought that, just from my recent observations, the research business really needs to start thinking seriously about its record on race and culture diversity.

0 comments

Get the latest MRS news

Our newsletters cover the latest MRS events, policy updates and research news.

Sign up A white arrowA black arrow