BBC newsreader Anna Ford has dismissed comments made by Michael Buerk about women dominating broadcasting, calling him a "dear old-fashioned chauvinist".

In an interview for a television series, broadcaster Michael Buerk used the example of his profession to say that men have acquired a lesser role in society.

Are women taking over in your profession? How do you feel about the balance of power in employment?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far:

SUGGEST A DEBATE This topic was suggested by Sarah, London, UK Has Michael Buerk got a point with his comments about women, or is he blowing the situation out of all proportion? Send us your suggestions for Have Your Say debates

Before I retired I worked in IT with a female colleague. She was petite, very pretty and damned good at her job. It galled me to see the patronising attitude of the senior male staff towards her. She fought her corner and won respect from her peers but there was no way she would advance beyond her technical position. As a result she left the company which was all the poorer because of it. Women can do demanding roles without men having to 'feminise' themselves to fit in.
Eccles, Bristol, UK

I think Michael Buerk's comments are being taken the wrong way. He was only trying to say that the balance of power had shifted too far in the other direction, not that women did not deserve equal rights or top positions.
Danny Chambers, Lifton, Devon

While everyone is worrying about who has power and authority in the workplace, who is bringing up the children? While both parents are vying for positions in their working lives, who is teaching the next generation the fundamental human values of caring for one another? I think that our society is losing out terribly by failing to give sufficient value to the nurturing skills which have traditionally been part of a mother's role.
Catherine, Surrey

A major problem for my profession (engineering) is that we struggle to encourage women into the job. I think we lose out as a result. If women are doing well in the media, that would make the media a more rounded industry to work in - I'd relish that.
Paul Johnson, Seoul, South Korea

Women should be perfectly entitled to hold the same positions as men James Robson, Scotland

Women should be perfectly entitled to hold the same positions as men, for the same salaries - as long as they dedicate themselves to their career. In my experience, women who try to juggle a full-time job and bring up a family rarely do either successfully.
James Robson, Scotland

The female domination of television and the dumbing down of television are both related, fuelled as they are by political correctness.
Michael, UK

Maybe women are taking over, but in my company, I won't hire anyone of childbearing age. I have better things to do with my hard-earned than to give it to someone so they can play happy families at my expense.
Steve, Walthamstow

I work for my local council and the balance in my section is 80:20 towards women. One of my female colleagues went out of her way to make a public statement about my need for a haircut and a shave. Such a comment could have only been made by a woman to a white, heterosexual man. If I had retorted about her own appearance she would have screamed sexism. I am probably the weediest guy you may ever set eyes on but am constantly being reminded that I am a man and am therefore capable of lifting heavy things. Yes, it feels like the women are taking over, whilst having forgotten about the laws of discrimination that were so rigidly applied to straight white men.
Ferg, Sheffield, UK

This is the woman's century, at least in the Western world Rob, Brighton, UK

This is the woman's century, at least in the Western world. I was delighted to have a daughter for lots of reasons but I believe she has a fantastic opportunity, it's her time.
Rob, Brighton, UK

It's not a competition! All this "women on top" stuff, surely it's time we realised; men and women are different! I'm female, working in an IT organisation, which has more men than women. Personally I don't think it matters, people should get their priorities straight, rather than trying to beat statistics (which probably aren't true anyway!)
Naomi, Exeter, England

Men and women are now more equal and that is, undoubtedly, a good thing. Unfortunately, today's situation is putting men in the position women were in many years ago; that of an underdog position. Do we have to have one or the other sex "in power" or can we be truly equal? Equal in terms of opportunity, choice and power whilst not being identical. All animals need to adapt to their changing environment in order to survive. Both men and women need to do this in harmony and not in competition with each other. We are all of the same species, we work and live well together and need each other. Advertising helps perpetuate the notion that men are thick and useless but would we females really want to live in a man-less society? Sounds like an awful prospect to me.
Anne Aldred, Guildford, England

Perhaps within BBC women have become more dominating but certainly not in the outside world! Unfortunately BBC selectors are looking for more glamorous looks in their broadcasters. Anna Ford is the most able news presenter on BBC but some of the presenters certainly do not give professionalism to the profession. Michael Buerk has a point, I believe.
B Munglani, Northwood UK

Survey after survey show that women doing a comparable job to men are often paid less than their male counterpart Peter Davison, London, UK

While the media and advertising industry give the impression that it is a women's world and dominate over the men! This is absolute fiction. There are still too many glass ceilings that don't allow women to reach their true potential. There is also too much of the old-boy network that treats women as second class citizens. Survey after survey show that women doing a comparable job to men are often paid less than their male counterpart. As much as I think that Michael Buerk is an excellent broadcaster, I think he has been taken in by the media-spin. We still have much work to do if there is to be genuine parity and equality in this arena.
Peter Davison, London, UK

I'm personally getting a little tired of the assumption, by my female peers, that as an adult male I can walk into any job I like and automatically get treated better and paid more than the women there. May I affirm, then, that this has NEVER, in my experience so far, been the case. Believe it or not, ladies, men have to fight their way up the company hierarchy just the same as you do.
Chris, London, UK

If a woman is better qualified to do a job then I believe she should get it. Why this has to end up with a 'them and us' stand off is beyond me. It makes me smile to hear women talking of 'bringing honour to woman kind' by progressing their careers, when most of the people holding top jobs have very little of the same!
Khalid, Birmingham, UK

John Humphries, Jeremy Paxman, Jon Snow, Dimbleby 1, Dimbleby 2, Frost, Heads of Beeb, Channel 4, Channel 5, ITV, David Attenborough... Yup - looks like a takeover!
Todmalthus, Barnstaple

Jennifer, London: The argument that a lack of female executives is evidence of discrimination just doesn't wash nowadays. The plain fact remains (and this is backed up by numerous surveys) that the number of women working in management positions in any organisation drops dramatically as the workforce reaches the mid 30s -mainly because many women leave to start families, often never to return. This is personal choice in operation, not discrimination.
Matt Munro, Bristol, UK

Yes, Women are taking over. Malcolm, Epsom.
No they're not! Janet, Epsom
Malcolm, Epsom

I used to work as a Business Applications Programmer for one of the biggest supermarket firms in Switzerland. I was the only woman in a department of 60 IT-Staff. After moving to England I am glad to see that there is a better balance in my new IT department. I don't believe women are taking over though. The majority is still male, but that doesn't bother me. I'm just glad that women are coming into the IT sector and that I'm not alone anymore!
TC, Leeds

How ignorant are Michael Buerk's comments? From where I'm standing, women certainly don't hold the majority of middle management positions, and I work in the public sector where a work life balance is encouraged. Stoicism, reticence etc, are not exclusively male traits and why should we conform to a working framework historically defined by men anyway?
Nicky, Brighton

New age men did their best to wear pastel colours, talk like women do, discuss shopping and other domestic stuff Alex, Moscow, Russia

Curious comments. During the Eighties, the push was on to make men more warm and caring, softer and 'weaker', able to discuss their emotions openly, and housework competent. As a musician doing gigs, I watched from the stage as New age men did their best to wear pastel colours, talk like women do, discuss shopping and other domestic stuff. Women crowed to each other loudly that their man was the kindest, most gentle, caring fellow on the planet, totally at ease with the washing up, and vacuuming, etc. It was sickening although amusing to see, and went against the primal instincts we're all possessed of. When the wave of pastel induced nausea subsided, it was interesting to note that women were out in their droves looking for a real man, who wouldn't do the washing up, but kiss them with intent, and of course behave like the male of the species and not a poor domesticated shadow. I think Mike has a point, and we need to be careful with balance, or this horrible part of our history threatens to rear its ugly head again!
Alex, Brit currently studying in Moscow, Russia

There's no way this article would be allowed if the title was 'Are black people taking over?' - why are we still allowed to discriminate in terms of sex but not race - both should be equally despicable and Michael Buerk has lost my respect.
Ginny, Belfast

We have become a feminised workforce, obsessed with multi tasking, process management and communication Matt Munro, Bristol, UK

It's not just broadcasting - I work in the defence industry and even in what you would perceive to be a "macho" environment we have become a feminised workforce, obsessed with multi tasking, process management, communication and other soft skills. Everything is becoming humourless, bland and "inoffensive" to fit in with female sensitivities. I cannot tell rude jokes in the pub, I cannot shout and swear at a football match and I cannot watch anything except makeovers on the BBC. 50% of the population are being marginalised and discriminated against by society.
Matt Munro, Bristol, UK

Proof that woman aren't taking over TV is the amount of cricket, football, rugby and other sport shown on the television.
RS, Glasgow, UK

I believe women are capable of handling higher office even better than men. I would encourage women to take the right path and bring honour to womanhood.
Gilsey Eyiah-Sampson(Mrs), Accra, Ghana

The law treats men shabbily, if you do not believe me, try being a man in front of the family courts.
Gerry, UK

If companies wish to be successful, the person who is best at each particular job will be chosen, irrespective of gender. Females are coming more to the fore in recent years because, finally, they have equal rights and opportunities and are taking full advantage of these. Good luck to them. As a male, I have no problems with this whatsoever.
Colin, London, England

Women can do most jobs almost as well as men and some better - cleaners, bar staff, shop assistants for example Bill Stitt, Edinburgh, Scotland

When I started work down the pits in the 1920s, all my work colleagues were male. Women seldom worked and those who did were viewed with some suspicion. Things have changed greatly since then, generally for the better. Women can do most jobs almost as well as men and some better - cleaners, bar staff, shop assistants for example. But I suspect that Michael Buerk has simply been losing his jobs to better qualified people.
Bill Stitt, Edinburgh, Scotland

I think it is sad and disappointing that Michael Buerk holds this view. I have long had respect for him given his stand on issues such as apartheid which led him to ultimately leave South Africa. Women's contribution to society is immeasurable and Anna Ford's achievements should be applauded.
Ben Keshiro, London

I work in a physics/engineering field and I can assure Michael Buerk there is no such shift in power here. All conferences I attend are 95% male dominated and there is still an old boys feel to them. I personally think the best way to challenge sex stereotypes is not to debate it endlessly, but put your head down, stop making a fuss and get on with a job that challenges that stereotype. If Buerk wants to do something for men's equality perhaps he could retrain as a nurse or primary school teacher.
Sharron, Nottingham

Men will continue to be diminished in the work place and society as a whole as their natural skills are no longer required to progress modern life.
Suzanne, London

I think it's true and I don't care. The female bosses I had were good at their jobs, and if it gives men the opportunity to find alternative lifestyles, without the pressure of being the main provider, all the better. When working from home for a while I combined my role with looking after my kids. Being able to do that full time would be a dream job.
Ed Karten, London, UK

We need more women in decision-making roles in public and civic life May De Silva, Belfast, N Ireland

It is high time that women are recognised for their skills and be given the opportunity for more decision-making powers in the workplace. We have a long way to go - Michael Buerk should embrace the role of women in our society. We need more women in decision-making roles in public and civic life.
May De Silva, Belfast, N Ireland

I agree with Michael Buerk's point that men are becoming more like women. This is because we assume, wrongly, that to be equal means being the same. It used to be that women tried to look like men. Remember shoulder pads and "power dressing" from the 1980s? Today it's the other way around, cue David Beckham in a sarong. It's time for a rethink. Surely men and women can be equal and different at the same time?
Simon Jordan, Essex

Mr Buerk is correct. I, for one, am sick of seeing women commentators on sports like football and rugby. Didn't see many on the cricket, thank goodness. It is political correctness gone mad again. The backlash will come but probably too late for me in my lifetime.
Jim, York, UK

It comes as no surprise to hear that women are assuming an ever-increasing role in white collar management posts, previously called "admin jobs". They are simply better at them. Most men are totally at sea in today's politically-correct, touchy-feely, workplace.
Philip, Westcliff-on-Sea, UK

This is just the backlash from centuries of female oppression by patriarchal religions. Unfortunately the women haven't learnt from the mistakes made and are repeating them, expect the backlash to reverse in the future.
Chris, UK

It may not actually be true but it is certainly the image portrayed by much of the media. In films and TV women in positions of authority are usually shown to be competent and clever, men are shown to be buffoonish and unreliable. This is not actually as obviously noticeable as it was a few years ago where any woman on TV had to be shown outsmarting and outperforming a man but it is still prevalent. So it is easy to believe that woman are taking over, even if the reality is very different.
Thomas, Birmingham

The belittling of men is accepted Sully, Sheffield, UK

I feel that Michael Buerk's main point is the decline of the masculine perspective in the media. Newspaper front pages resemble the cover of Heat magazine and the result of Big Brother makes the headlines. In advertising women are gorgeous and clever yet living with a geeky buffoon. The belittling of men is accepted - how many male executives would be allowed the equivalent of "A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle" to hang behind their desk?
Sully, Sheffield, UK

Until women receive equal pay, have an equal say in Parliament, and obtain other basic rights such as being able to view women's sports on television, I do not think men have a right to complain. Yes men, stand up for your values if you think you are being feminised, and celebrate your own perception of masculinity, but don't blame women for your problems when we still live in unequal patriarchy.
Kathryn Hehir

I tend to agree with much of what Michael Buerk says. I believe that the scales have tipped too strongly in favour of women. The atmosphere in the workplace is not as much fun as it used to be, neither is it as competitive (competition is healthy). I do not want to get or hold a job, just because I am a woman. I like to think that I got my job because I was the best person for that job. I definitely do not want people tiptoeing around me. I feel very sorry for men in the workplace now. They have to be so careful, not to cause offence. Women seem to want all the advantages, but still want to be treated with kid gloves on occasions. It is just not on! While Women have gained power, men seem to have been robbed of it.
Patricia Vanderveer, Wallasey, UK

I don't think women are taking over. Some of my best bosses have been women (and some of the worst). The simple fact that most women at some point decide to have children will always hinder them in the professional work place. Woman represent 52% of the world's population, so there going to be prevalent in the work place.
Mike Daly, Miami, FL, US

Why is it so important that gender/racial groups are proportionally represented? Has nobody asked that the reason there may not as many (for example) women engineers is because there are less women that actually want to go into that profession?
Stewart, Berks, UK

I work as a quantity surveyor in the construction industry and while women are still grossly under represented in technical/professional roles (I believe around 9% of employees are female, and the majority of this 9% are admin) I have seen a definite increase in the last couple of years in the number of women I have met who have chosen a career in construction and have found it a thoroughly rewarding choice. There is still an enormous amount of work left to do before there is anything approaching equality but the wheels are in motion and attitudes are changing (at long last). Very encouraging!
L, London

In the IT firm I worked in Oz, 90% of the management were female about 5 years ago. During that 5 years, they all got married and kept disappearing for 6 months every year on maternity leave. Not much use to anyone. Interestingly, the same organisation has 90% male managers now.
Todd , currently in UK, from Sydney

I work for an engineering company here in Oxford, we design and manufacture MRI scanners. Out of a workforce of around 150, only about 15 are women, and most of those are in secretarial/admin type roles. Clearly, engineering is one profession that is still very male dominated.
Chris Day, Oxford, United Kingdom

It doesn't matter whether women are finally getting a fair share of the job market or not. While men continue to receive higher salaries for the same jobs, women remain the underdogs.
Jones, UK

Women are not taking over, they are getting their rightful place. This age old concept that only men can run the world affairs is shattering and this is hurting their ego.
Anon, Pleasanton, CA, USA

Its madness to talk about 'a balance of power' in employment. In this day and age with equal opportunities coming out of our ears, each person, irrespective of sex, colour or creed has the same chance to make in their given field. From that point onwards, it is up to the individual's personal commitment, attitude and ability how they compete with their peers for promotion. The cream will always rise to the surface, and those that complain they have been overlooked for promotion or discriminated against are probably not a 'creamy' as they would like to think!
Roger Cope, Burton upon Trent, England

Employers are adopting a prejudice that males are less capable of soft skills and empathy and that women are much better at this Al, Sheffield, UK<

I'm a 29 year old male and have been told my whole life that men are apparently supposed to get a better deal than women. I think we need to accept that this has not been the case for a number of years now. In IT, for instance, large companies have female-only recruitment drives and are much more keen to take on young women. In most fields employers are adopting a prejudice that males are less capable of soft skills and empathy and that women are much better at this. Also there are much more well developed mechanisms for women to complain about their career lot and much greater encouragement for them to do so.
Al, Sheffield, UK

Every job in any industry or service should be staffed by the most competent person for the job, regardless of any gender imbalance there might be. This isn't discrimination, it's common sense.
Scott, Edinburgh

You're joking right? Even here in the US and over in the UK (two bastions of female rights and equality) women are still paid less and are a tiny percentage of senior executives. Women won't truly 'take over' until they vote as a block and realize their numerical voting superiority.
Daniel, Middletown, USA

Women are taking on equal working roles because men are helping at home. I do all the cooking, shopping and most of the housework (all except ironing, no way I'm prepared to master that) as well as running a small business part time. My girlfriend works full-time as an IT contractor. I like the lifestyle and I can't work out why women would leave housework for an office job, it's much easier at home.
anon, UK

Mr Buerk should take a look round the Square Mile before he claims that men have acquired a lesser role in society Jo, London

On the project I work on for our investment bank, there are 80 of us in the UK, 8 of whom are women. I am not normally a radical feminist, but Mr Buerk should take a look round the Square Mile before he claims that men have acquired a lesser role in society.
Jo, London

Its obvious women are taking over in positions of authority. They have been oppressed for so long, they are far easier to control by the higher elements of management (which are still men). They are simply 'yes men' or should I say 'yes women'! Men have a far more unpredictable free will element installed within them. If you want someone to never answer back, never question an order, never think for themselves, never hold their own opinion, and ALWAYS carry forth the orders to the troops below from the hierarchy above, then always choose today's women. They are so grateful for this new found authority, they will never question the motive behind it.
Justice Savage, Portsmouth

In my social circle, most of the men are unemployed and the women are the breadwinners. The men can't get work as all the jobs available are seen as female gendered. Men no longer stand a chance in the work stakes - this started with the destruction of manufacturing during the Conservative neo-liberal period.
Andrew M, Walsall, UK

I work in IT and out of 15 people in my company, only 3 of us are female, so I don't think women are taking over the IT industry just yet. Whoever is best for the job should do it regardless of gender.
Jo, Manchester, UK

So what if they are? So long as they are appointed on the basis of their ability and not gender (ie discrimination), I do not see a problem. Women are just as good as men in many jobs (although not as good at hod-carrying, for example), so why shouldn't the work balance shift?
Neil Hopkins, Horsham, UK

I am all for equality in the workplace but would not go as far as women "taking over". That being said, I was shocked to overhear a female colleague being overlooked for promotion as she was "off to start a family in the next few years"!
Jane, Kent

We are still a long way from an equal balance Pauline, Suffolk

I work in IT. I'm one of only two females in our R&D office of over 20 staff. In my team I'm the only female and I'm roughly middle of the hierarchy. It is easier for women to break in to 'male dominated' arenas, but - at least in IT - we are still a long way from an equal balance let alone female domination.
Pauline, Suffolk

We are moving swiftly from manufacturing towards service orientated industries. Some of these industries rely more heavily on soft skills. Thank goodness women don't seem to favour a career in IT or I would probably be out of a job by now.
Rex Lester, Chessington

I am 24 and I never had a male manager in my time at work. Many of my female friends earn more than their partners. But my parents generation, the man is still the breadwinner of the house.
Helen, Wakefield

We all have a role to play as individuals Chris, Fleet

This country is made up of a certain percentage of whites, blacks, gays, women, men, blondes, red heads, rich, poor, etc. If you look through different work sectors you will see that different sectors are dominated by different groups. To say any one group has a lesser role in society is madness. We all have a role to play as individuals and if one group dominates one area it is because the majority of society wants them to, it is after all a free country.
Chris, Fleet

Women taking over? Women make up half the population yet only fraction of top executives are women, only a fraction of MP's are women, women are over-represented in low-paid work and still suffer sexism in the work place. We have a long way to go until we are equal let alone on top!
Jennifer, London

My impression is that it is true of public services, such as the NHS and local government, but not true of the rest of the economy, where glass ceilings remain in place. Maybe that's because public authorities have better women-friendly policies such as maternity leave, or maybe it's because not as many women relish the greasy pole as more competitive men?
John, London UK