Doctor Who's first female actor sparks shock diversity debate

It took the British public over 250 years to elect Margaret Thatcher as their first female Prime Minister. It was 13 years before Marjorie Scardino was recognised as the first female FTSE100 CEO.

And, even though the UK has had a selection of strong female Monarchs, and history of women assuming power in a male-dominated world, it seems that the latest revelation, that Doctor Who will now be played by a woman, has sent unappreciated shockwaves throughout the nation. But why?

HR is no stranger to the ongoing diversity problems prevalent throughout the modern workforce. As Lila Ibrahim, Chief Operating Officer at Coursera, explained in Forbes: “Bias feeds on insecurity. We all have the impulse to hide our differences. But if you’re ashamed of who you are, you’re silently telling the world that you agree with stereotypes. Hold your head high and remind yourself that your differences are an asset, not a liability.”

This is something that Jodie Whittaker, Doctor Who’s first female reincarnation, has already pre-empted. In a statement issued after her appointment, she told fans “not to be scared by [her] gender”. She added: “To be asked to play the ultimate character, to get to play pretend in the truest form: this is why I wanted to be an actor in the first place.