August 12, 2005

Man Will Lead Women's Studies

By ROBIN WILSON

"A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle" was a popular feminist slogan 35 years ago, as the women's-liberation movement was giving birth to the field of women's studies. But the University of Washington has decided that what its women's-studies department needs is a man.

The university announced last month that, for the first time since the department's creation, in 1970, it will be led by a man, David G. Allen. According to the university, the choice is unique nationwide: Mr.