Gender equality drive flawed

Sir, - I find it unacceptable for the first minister to use her offices to promote more opportunities for women in society when the most disadvantaged grouping is white working-class males.

Ours is not an androgynous society and positive discrimination is not the answer.

Her mantra should be to provide opportunities for all on the basis of ability and not gender.

Recognising the faults of the previous structure of society is all well and good but to have a narrow view of promoting either sex over the other is a mistake.

There are, and always will be, a difference between the sexes: both have strengths and weaknesses.

The most recent report of such equal opportunity dogma is to allow women in the army to fight on the frontline. However, the impact of strenuous training may result in difficulty in conceiving a child in later life.

This is causing a rethink in government as it will have implications for legal action.

I support women being given all the opportunities of their male counterparts but this should be tempered with fair competition and suitability.

It is particularly interesting in such events as the Olympics that women and men don’t compete with each other.

This is because they have different physical attributes.

It would be unfair competition to do otherwise. Politics are cerebral and both men and women bring valid arguments to the table but any candidate selected for office should be the most able and not imposed as a result of gender discrimination or balancing AG Walker. Puddledub Cottage, Guthrie.