Bearded Profs = No Women?

A study by two female graduate students in the UK purports to prove that a high correlation between facial hair and tenured professorships reveals discrimination against women, according to the Daily Telegraph.

While 10.5 per cent of lecturers were bewhiskered, the figure rose to 13.6 per cent for senior lecturers, 16.7 per cent for readers and 21.4 per cent for professors.

However, one well-known bearded professor, Sir Alec Jeffreys, said yesterday: "I grew my beard back in 1968, out of laziness and to cover a sulphuric acid burn on my jaw incurred during a home experiment that went awry."

Hmmm. I wore a beard for 15 years, but shaved it a couple of years after my last teaching job. Although it didn't seem to do me much good, I've toyed with the idea of letting it grow back. The bearded academic is indeed a stereotype, along with old tweed coats, pipes, and Hush Puppies. And while a visit to just about any campus will reveal some species so bedecked, I'm not convinced it has much to do with the presence or absence of women on faculties. After all, another stereotype, recently highlighted by studies and articles, is that university faculties are famously liberal and in favor of affirmative action for minorities and women. Any prof who spoke out against feminism would find himself (or herself) in very hot water, and quickly -- bearded or smooth.

The web page carrying the story also sports a couple of notable ads: one for a device capable of trimming hair "anywhere," and another eliminating hair permanently. Looks like the Telegraph's ad folks are playing to both sides.