I have heard many women executives say that they do not want to be seen favoring their colleagues on the basis of their gender. Their judgement would be questioned by their male managers as would their gender bias. I personally believe that gender bias is needed at the workplace and should be openly flaunted until such time that it is no longer needed. Men have been doing it for ages. The Old Boys Network dominates every corporation I have worked with.
Nobody questions the promotion of a male colleague by a male manger.
It is taken for granted that he is competent and deserving. Why then do female mangers think twice about promoting their female colleagues. I guess my attitude towards women issues is that if I can make a positive difference to just one other life, I would consider it a life well spent. I could do that by adopting a baby girl from Pakistan, or sponsoring the education of a gifted female child from Peru or indeed by recognizing the worth of my female colleagues at the workplace. All of us need to do a bit of soul searching during this review of BP5.