The University of Melbourne is hiring women only for a new $200K/year mathematical physics lecturer job, but men can apply too if they claim to be “transgender”.
The university posted the job ad on Monday with “women applicants only” in the listing title, but then clarified that men who pretend to be women are also eligible for the role, which comes with a salary of up to $175,065 plus 17% superannuation for a senior lecturer.
“Only women (cis- or trans-) are eligible to apply as this position is exempt under the special measure provision, Section 12 (1) of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic),” the listing states.
“Cis” is a far-left extremist term used to refer to biological females, and the element of Victorian law mentioned allows discrimination if it is done to promote “substantive equality”.
This listing also states that the university is “committed to creating an inclusive and fair workplace where everyone is valued, respected, and empowered to succeed” and that it welcomes “applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences”.
A spokesperson told news.com.au the university was trying the correct the “underrepresentation” of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.
“The University of Melbourne is committed to increasing diversity and addressing the underrepresentation of women in disciplines where there has been a longstanding gender imbalance,” they said.
“This position has been advertised as a women only opportunity to promote substantive equality for groups that have historically been underrepresented.
“Women remain underrepresented in a number of STEM disciplines including some areas of mathematics and physics. This recruitment approach is intended to support greater representation and participation in those fields over time.
“Candidates appointed through these processes must meet the same academic and professional standards required for the role. The successful applicant will be selected on merit against the requirements of the role.”
According to the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC), “people and organisations [are legally allowed to] treat people differently in specific situations if those people or organisations are taking action to address genuine equality for disadvantaged groups”.
“Substantive equality means recognising that some groups have been disadvantaged by inequality and past discrimination,” the VEOHRC says.
“It means understanding that some groups may need special assistance to address that disadvantage, rather than simply being treated equally or the same in a formal sense.”
The listing comes after Perth’s Edith Cowan University last month published a job listing for an anti-racism coordinator that only aboriginals could apply for.
Header image: Main, the University of Melbourne (Polly clip – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link). Inset, the job listing.
