The Wikipedia entry on Athena SWAN is here. The start of the piece, which is feminist-friendly throughout, as we’d expect of Wikipedia:
Athena SWAN (Scientific Women’s Academic Network) is a charter established and managed by the British Equality Challenge Unit in 2005 that recognises and celebrates good practice towards the advancement of gender equality: representation, progression and success for all. [J4MB: For ALL?]
The Athena SWAN charter was established to encourage and recognise commitment to advancing the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) employment in higher education and research.
In May 2015 the charter was expanded to include non-STEM schools, professional and support staff, technical staff, and trans staff and students. The first awards to non-STEM university departments were announced in April 2016.
The entry ends with this:
 |
|
The real objective of Athena SWAN couldn’t be clearer. It is to advantage women over men in securing academic positions, regardless of merit. William Collins’s outstanding 2015 article on the initiative is here.
Our thanks to Paul for pointing us to a Times Higher Education online survey. Question 12 should give you a flavour of it:
Do you think it is fair on men that an academic sisterhood may exist?
May exist? What the hell is Athena SWAN if not concrete proof the ‘academic sisterhood’ has existed in British academia since 2005, and in truth probably for decades before that?
Justice for Men & Boys 
My concern is that the matter of education and qualification(s) is SO important that the men’s movement in general should urgently consider giving it top campaigning priority.
We have often made the case that any job or postion should be given the most qualified and appropriate candidate, and not manipulated to achieve some imposed, politically driven quota.
However the fact remains that we are rapidly heading for a situation in which the most qualified candidate (at least on paper) will AUTOMATICALLY mostly be female.
This is the outcome Swan are aiming for, and on course to achieve.
If, or rather when, this happens men will be without any voice or influence at all (especially since women are also the majority of voters) not just for the rest of our own lifetimes, but for at least a generation beyond THAT.
Is this what we want?
If not, and by not actively opposing it, we pretty much guarantee this will happen.
LikeLike
Totally Agree. I have to admit until the retired Curnock-Cook of UCAS really opened my eyes to the impact at higher levels I was apt to think it a small difference based on the generally more acquiescent natures of girls and tendency to produce attractive folders for course work etc. Mary Curnock-Cook, perhaps because as a woman I didn’t expect it, woke me up with her unequivocal statements of the facts.
Its so important in an economy dominated by giant organisations and companies in the “service” sectors. Certainly in any HR dominated sector (all the public sector at its widest definition and major “corporations”) paper qualifications trump experience. Because of course if you include “experience” that disadvantages women who have had time out or work less hours and qualities such as fortitude, confidence, decisiveness and analytical acumen are all too “patriarchal”. Which leaves one with the simple to measure “have you got a degree?”
Like me I think few realise the scale of the “gap”.
LikeLike
Great points…..this is why education/skills should indeed be given top priority in the Mens Rights Movement,63% of junior management in UK organisations both public & private are now held by females and this increasing trend is heading up year on year.
Men are being sold short,no question.
LikeLike