As Austin Powers would say: "That's not a woman. That's a man, man."
"A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle." That feminist slogan was popular 35 years ago, as the women's liberation movement was giving birth to the field of women's studies. But the University of Washington has decided that what its women's-studies department needs is a man.
The university announced this month that, for the first time since the department's creation in 1970, it will be led by a man, David G. Allen. According to the university, the choice is also unique nationwide: Mr. Allen will be the only male heading any of the 10 women's-studies departments in the country that offer a doctoral degree.
Of course, he has some of the requisite credentials.
Allen also said he’s aware of how being a white male has affected his own career and life paths. “I have felt for a long time that people like me who benefit from sexism and racism have the responsibility to try to support addressing it. For me, it’s really in large part a commitment to say, ‘What can I do to work for social justice myself and to be useful to others who are doing similar work?’
What is "social justice" and whose version do we accept and why?
King Banaian notes that not everyone is happy with the choice of someone from the so-called "privileged class" to lead the department:
Nancy J. Kenney, an associate professor of women's studies at Washington, said that while Mr. Allen is "a wonderful man," she found the decision to name him chairman "somewhat depressing." She said she lamented that "after all of these years, there isn't a different alternative out there."
"There simply aren't enough women of the right type and interest to take over this position," she said.
Mr. Allen, the new chair, suggests that men can work on women's issues as much as whites can work on antiracist issues. I think maybe women are smart enough to know that being department chairperson is a thankless task. My guess is Mr. Allen will find it particularly so.