Does Equal Opportunity Legislation and Practice Serve the Women's Movement? A Case Syudy from Australian Higher Education

Equal opportunity and affirmative action legislation have operated in areas of the Australian public sector for over ten years and in higher education institutions for five years. The intent of the legislation is to provide equal opportunity for women (and other specifIed groups) in employment and other areas of public life, and to pursue affirmative action strategies to eliminate the effects of past discrimination. We must continually assess whether this legislation is producing outcomes which are in the interest of, and which benefIt, women.