Discrimination against women

Press, 29 February 1984, Page 16

Discrimination against women

Sir,—l am fully aware that women do not have equal rights in the Soviet Union. R. Wilks (February 22) rightly points out that although Soviet doctors are mainly women, the profession has not the same prestige it has here. Even where women are involved in highstatus jobs, such as engineering, they are still associated with the area of the profession consistent with the traditional female role. Seventy-five per cent of female engineers are involved in food products technology. I believe that even from these lower positions women are in a better position to demand equality of status and opportunity than they are from the home where Dr Viney and some others would like to see them. This is the main reason why I opposed correspondents who condemned the Soviet’s attempts to end sexual inequality. There are far fewer opportunities for the average woman in our own system —Yours, etc.,

SALLY E. WASHINGTON. February 26, 1984.