I found a really interesting article that talks about women being discriminated against in the workplace
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6402933.stm
It really highlights that women are often overlooked for employment or promotion because they have or could soon have young children. I was once in what I felt was a good position for promotion, yet they gave the job to a man who was less qualified, had less skills and was an idiot. When I asked for feedback about why I had not been given the job I was kind of brushed off that they felt he could bring new ideas blah blah. It kind of back fired on them though, he went on the sick 2 months later with stress at work and when they asked me to act up I kindly declined. He was off for months which cost them a fortune. I truly belive he was given the job because he was a man and it was male interviewers.
I think when employers hire women they kind of think now how much time could this person need off work for childcare, what if their kids are sick etc.. it is assumed that this is always something that falls to the woman to see to.