Once upon a time, 1506 wrote:

In my professional life I have observed less qualified women promoted,
rather than better qualified men. That particular form of
"affirmative action" has been fashionable for a while.

Not in the UK it wasn't, ISTR the equality acts ban any form of
discrimination, negative or positive. I know things were different in
the US, one of the Dirty Harry films partly based on that premise, where
a female cop with no beat experience is promoted to detective in order
to fulfil a mayor's quota. Agree that's a bad way to do it - better to
make discrimination illegal, and then make sure the rule is enforced by
hammering any company that flouts it with large fines.

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- The Iron Jelloid