Equality and Diversity news from last week – Baroness Hale criticises lack of women in the legal profession, are more women opting to give up their careers and stay at home, a transgender primary school teacher found dead after hounding by press, and why do we need a ‘business case’ for equality and diversity.

Baroness Hale, the most senior female judge in Britain, has criticsed the lack of women in the legal profession, especially at senior levels. She said that talented women are overlooked for senior jobs because interviewers are more comfortable with men. Making a case for improving diversity among judges, she argues that it would improve the ‘democratic legitimacy’ of the legal system.

Interestingly, an article in the New York Magazine discussed the rise of the ‘stay-at-home mom’ – women who are choosing to opt out of work and look after their families full time. There have been many responses to the article, including one which we posted on the blog last week which argues that it can’t be ‘choice’ until the option of staying in work is equally attractive.

A transgender primary school teacher, who was to return to school shortly after her transition from a man to a woman, was found dead in her home. Some parents were reported to have complained that their children were too young to understand transgender issues and an article appeared in the Daily Mail (which has now been taken down) arguing that Lucy should keep her problems away from impressionable children. The press is being blamed for hounding Lucy Meadows.

And finally, a very interesting article on why the moral case for diversity is sidelined by the business case: “Why are organisation members less vocal about the moral case for equality (in all forms, not just proportional representation of white women in the boardroom)? We believe this is tricky because it personalises inequality. It is easier to focus on theoretical corporations with no corporeal existence as a target for responsible, moral behaviour. Turning this stance onto ourselves is more difficult.”

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