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I'm not debating whether it's right or wrong. I'm simply pointing out the fact that his approach, even by your suggested guidelines, is still very much illegal in the UK.

Legality to one side, I would be interested in hearing more about this. Surely any hiring decision that's even remotely swayed by gender opposes the entire concept of gender equality?

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> very much illegal in the UK.

I question this. Neither I nor Wikipedia should be used for legal advice, but there are exceptions to discrimination law, and the parent's comment seems to precisely meet one of them:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_employment_discrimination_l...

Assuming absolutely identical skills, experience, education, etc, then you are legally entitled to apply positive action in favouring a woman. Attempting to defend that position in a UK employment tribunal however, would be near impossible.

If he is trying to prefer women to help balance out the team I would think he is trying to maintain gender equality in another respect.

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