Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

Job application not asking for sex, but asking if cis or trans

106 replies

JobHuntingPerson · 12/08/2020 19:52

In the middle of applying for a job online, got to the equality and diversity section, all the usual questions about sexuality, religion ethnicity. I know a lot of people hate answering those questions but I think they can be important for companies to monitor their inclusivity.

Anyway, there was no sex question, it did not ask if I'm male or female. Instead there was a gender identity question, asking if I'm Agender, Cisgender, Trans, Queer, Intersex, Non -binary or prefer another term.

So basically, if or when the company does an equality review they will have no idea how many women they employ, no idea how to monitor or prevent any sexist culture growing in the workplace that makes life harder for female employees- or means we never get employed by them in the first place.

Has anyone else who's job seeking at the moment, or working in HR, seen anything like this. Is it becoming the norm?

I found it quite off-putting and don't know how to answer the question.

Job application not asking for sex, but asking if cis or trans
OP posts:
AntsInPenzance · 13/08/2020 09:08

Select 'other term preferred' and put female.

Floisme · 13/08/2020 09:08

Anyway op, if you don't need that job I would ditch them. It doesn't bode well at all.

TreestumpsAndTrampolines · 13/08/2020 09:01

I didn't realise I stumbled into a GC echo chamber. 😳😂

ROFL - who'd have thunk that feminists, on a forum for parents, might know a little bit about sex, and be happy to educate about it.

OP - I'd 'prefer not to answer' - it's entirely inappropriate on so many levels to even be asking, let alone how they're asking, and the options they give.

ErrolTheDragon · 13/08/2020 09:00

@Floisme

I'm not surprised. Where do you go after a comment like that Grin
There's a thread on answering questions with the wrong answer only which might suit?
Helmetbymidnight · 13/08/2020 08:59
Grin
Skyliner001 · 13/08/2020 08:57

I didn't realise I stumbled into a GC echo chamber. 😳😂

Floisme · 13/08/2020 08:57

I'm not surprised. Where do you go after a comment like that Grin

Helmetbymidnight · 13/08/2020 08:56

people laughing at your utter incoherence doesn't mean touching a nerve.

ye gads

Skyliner001 · 13/08/2020 08:51

Touched a nerve. Enjoy your outrage. I'm out.

Skyliner001 · 13/08/2020 08:51

@Floisme

Eh? We are all the sex we were born with.
🙄
Helmetbymidnight · 13/08/2020 08:50

if its hachette please consider taking this higher/publicising it.

Deliriumoftheendless · 13/08/2020 08:46

Everyone got there before me.

Deliriumoftheendless · 13/08/2020 08:45

Everyone is the sex they were born with, however they id!

Floisme · 13/08/2020 08:45

Sorry x post

Floisme · 13/08/2020 08:44

Eh?
We are all the sex we were born with.

ErrolTheDragon · 13/08/2020 08:42
  • If you are cis gender then you are the sex you were born with.

So that's everyone then, and an even more stupid question if they don't ask which sex that is.

Skyliner001 · 13/08/2020 08:39

@Gingerkittykat

Did they also ask about biological sex?

I bet a huge proportion of the people out there filling out job applications don't have a clue what cis or some of the other words mean.

If you are cis gender then you are the sex you were born with.

It's a more detailed diversity form than I've ever filled in.

What were the other diversity questions like?

OvaHere · 12/08/2020 23:07

Publishing companies are particularly bad right now. If you took the job there's a good chance at some point you'd be expected to join a walk out because an author wrote something the staff didn't like.

Based on this application form I'd keep looking.

Original poster
JobHuntingPerson · 12/08/2020 23:04

Sorry, got distracted and forgot I'd started this thread.

There's definitely no question about biological sex on the application form.

It's a publishing company.

There's a note above the gender identity question saying it was written in consultation with the company's Pride group.

I thought including intersex as an option in a gender identity question was a bit dubious, but thinking about it, I do agree with PPs saying it's very wrong. It is a medical condition that has nothing to do with gender.

Not sure if I'll continue the application. I already have a job, so don't desperately need this, just looking for something better.

OP posts:
Singasonga · 12/08/2020 21:39

What kind of company is this? (Or at least, what sector?)

JacobReesMogadishu · 12/08/2020 21:38

I work for a university and was only asked my gender not my biological sex when I applied.

Gingerkittykat · 12/08/2020 21:32

Did they also ask about biological sex?

I bet a huge proportion of the people out there filling out job applications don't have a clue what cis or some of the other words mean.

Oliversmumsarmy · 12/08/2020 21:21

I think someone is congratulating themselves on how woke they are.

I would say not having Male or female is actually sex discrimination as it infers that if you want to work for this company then you need to be one of the boxes. Cis is a derogatory term and Prefer not to say is untrue as you would say if there was a box you could tick.

EmpressJKRowlingSpartacus · 12/08/2020 21:20

Are you sure you want to work for this company? I’d take that as quite a big red flag.

Gottalife · 12/08/2020 21:18

@CourtneyLurve

I thought Trans people didn't want to be reminded of their Trans status? So who is this meant to be for?
They don't usually. But just tick "prefer another term" then put anything you like. No problem.
Swipe left for the next trending thread