Women are only working for pocket money anyway, right?

OK, before I get reported, I am kidding.

Why would women get laid off first? Where is this old boys' club - I have not seen it. In any clamp-down, both ends of the spectrum will be laid off first - the useless people, and oddly enough, the most talented people when there is voluntary redundancy offered - they take the 'bonus' and hop straight into another job.

I disagree. The point is well taken, but I believe, thanks in part to that old "glass ceiling" concept, that the higher paid males, age 40 and over wil be the first to suffer a job loss. I've seen it up close and personal - and trust me, it's always about the "benjamin's!"

Whomever is in charge of picking these big ideas should be reassigned.

Really.

I've yet to read one that was relevant of realistic.

Well this is an interesting idea. I think that a recession's impact is always worth/impact biased first then, maybe, gender bias. If you don't bring a certain level of value to a company, usually monetary, then you are in the line of fire. Then after that I think you get to the "old boys club" point.