Gender bias in academia?

Of course. Though many of my male colleagues are sensitive, warm-fuzzy types (not all, but probably a greater proportion than you’d find in the general population), many still don’t understand the subtle gender biases in academia, some of which they inadvertantly help to perpetuate.

Take for example, the comment made to me by a new colleague on hearing that I had just received my Ph.D. before starting my first tenure-track position: “Congratulations. In my field, it takes a white, male an average of seven years to get his first tenure-track position.” Well, I could have retorted (had I not been so dumbfounded) that his field is also one of very little practical use these days…