yeap, year after year only 2% of women are funded, and stats are lower if you are minority, colored, 3rd world etc
in my country, Affirmative Action is for the majority (opposite of norm) to compliment race based political parties. So the minorities get about 5% economic access to business loans, business grants, and even startup equity funding. There is no equal access to even higher education.
In this case, meritocracy is the only way to get any form of equal access. This is the aftermath of far rights - and it will be the same for whichever country, whatever religion. At the end of the day, whether it is affirmative action or meritocracy, the goal is to just provide equal access to everyone.
But it is easier said than done