Welcome to the weekly round up of equality and diversity news. This week we have – single sex stadiums, single sex schools, France’s first fines on women wearing niqabs and National Work-Life Week.

With the Olympics approaching, we’ve all been a bit more sporty. It’s a great time to record sports ‘firsts’. Last week, Istanbul witnessed the world’s first football match attended only by women and children. After Fenerbahce’s (the defending champions) fans stormed the stadium following a pre-season friendly, they thought they would be forced to play in an empty stadium. However, the Turkish FA decided to keep out miscreants by banning all males over the age of 12. The game was attended by 41,000 women and children. Louise Taylor, writing for the Guardian, wonders whether England’s Premier League would benefit from a smiliar experiment – what do you think?

Meanwhile, we are back to wondering whether single-sex schools do more harm than benefit. A study published in the Science journal argues that sex segregated education is misguided. There is no conclusive evidence to say that sex segregated education improves academic performance. It, instead, runs the risk of increasing gender stereotyping and legitimising sexism. Richard Fabes of Arizona State University said: “Separating boys and girls in public school classrooms makes gender very salient, and this salience reinforces stereotypes and sexism.”

France has gone ahead and imposed the first fines for wearing niqab on two women who flouted the niqab ban soon after it came into force. The women say they will appeal against their punishment all the way to the European Court of Human Rights. One of the women, Hind Ahmas, 32, a mother-of-three, was fined 120 euros (£104) by the court. She told the BBC she put on the niqab for the first time six years ago as an educated single woman.

Finally, this week is the National Work-Life Week, an opportunity to stress the vital importance of achieving work-life balance. Has your employer been helpful in ensuring that you achieve a balance between your work and life? What are some working practices you’d like to see encouraged to manage your work and life? Share your thoughts with us in the comment box below.

.…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Want something to be included in the next weekly news? Email a.islam1@lse.ac.uk