Distinguished Professor Lesley Hughes and Professor Sherman Young

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This week, Macquarie shines a light on an important social issue by celebrating Gender Equity Week. Here, we speak to two champions of the week to find out what gender equity means to them.

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What does gender equity mean to you?

Sherman: I have a fundamental belief that all humans should have the opportunity to contribute according to their genuine abilities and strengths, and shouldn’t be held back by social, cultural or historical prejudices and biases. Gender equity is a big part of that.

Lesley: Ultimately, it’s just about fairness in society. Women hold up half the sky so why shouldn’t they have equal opportunities in everything?

Why is it a cause you are passionate about?

Sherman: Engagement with new and diverse ideas is essential. The decisions we make about the world need to reflect the reality of our diverse humanity. Not only are there core social justice principles involved, but the evidence is that diversity contributes to a range of positive outcomes. Again, gender equity is a key part of ensuring that diversity.

Lesley: I hate waste! Why waste the talents of half the population?

How is Macquarie University supporting this initiative?

Sherman: The Gender Equity Strategy is a key initiative to provide institutional direction. Ultimately, it’s up to all of us to live up to its aspirations in our actions – even if it’s something as simple as taking the Panel Pledge.

Lesley: Macquarie released its Gender Equity Strategy almost a year ago. The Strategy rests on six pillars: leadership, culture, flexibility, pay fairness, recruitment and pipeline.

What is your role on the Gender Equity Strategy Committee?

Sherman: I co-chair the Self-Assessment Team with Lesley, and am a member of the Gender Equity Strategy Committee.

Lesley: I am a member of the Gender Equity Strategy Committee, which has oversight of the Gender Equity Strategy. I also co-chair the Gender Equity Self-Assessment Team (with Sherman), which has two responsibilities. One is to drive the implementation of the University’s Gender Equity Strategy and the second is to prepare the application for Bronze Accreditation under the Athena SWAN charter, as part of the Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) initiative.

Can you share a personal story or anecdote?

Sherman: When my partner was on maternity leave with our second child, her workplace (not a university!) restructured her out of a job. We ended up taking industrial action and mediating a positive outcome, but it made it very clear to me that even the most progressive of industries had embedded structures and thinking that discriminated against women.

Lesley: In my research area, which is climate change science, I have often been the only woman in a room of men. This is changing, but I would like to see it change much faster. I recently found out that it was a woman who first demonstrated the science of the greenhouse effect – Eunice Foote in 1856. This discovery was traditionally credited to a male physicist who didn’t publish his work until three years later. I would really like to see a generation of young women following Eunice’s example to make significant contributions to understanding and meeting the greatest challenge facing the planet.