The impact of patriarchal structures in education and research must he challenged to allow all students, both men and women, the chance to fulfil their potential, argue Frances Gordon and Peter Wimpenny

Despite the influence of the feminist perspective and changing social and economic patterns, patriarchal influences continue to pervade all aspects of life through language, law and custom (1). The research supervision relationship is not immune from these influences and the authors contend that they are detrimental to the needs of nurses and ultimately the generation of nursing knowledge. Sex and gender influences have to be acknowledged (2), particularly as nursing education becomes part of higher education, where the characteristics of patriarchal structures are exhibited throughout its processes.