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Original poster

Sex (I.e gender) as a statement on an equality policy. I want to challenge it.

29 replies

hannahwaddinghamsbiceps · 04/07/2023 07:42

Hi all. NHS trust equality and diversity policy has the phrase ' sex (I.e gender)'
on its list of protected characteristics.
Given that i.e means "that is" and sex is a protected characteristic and gender is not ( plus one is a fact and one is a feeling) I want to email the head of E&D to point this out.
However it would be an email with my name on, to someone more senior than me. Who's whole job is based around getting this stuff right. Except I don't think he is on this point.
Any suggestions for clever wording.?
I notice the other protected characteristics don't seem to need an explanation, clarification or qualification on the list.

OP posts:
Zimunya · 04/07/2023 07:53

Love @TeenDivided’s email. Gender reassignment is a protected characteristic, but gender beliefs are not. Big difference. He is conflating two issues (perhaps deliberately?)

The 9 protected characteristics are: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

TeenDivided · 04/07/2023 07:49

This may not be appropriate in your situation, but I'd start with politely confused.

Dear <Head of whoever>

I was reading the EDI policy (found here) and I found this statement ..........

This doesn't seem very clear to me and I am sure others will be confused too. My understanding is that the protected characteristic is sex, and that these days gender is considered to be something different - for example people can change gender but not sex, some people think there are 72+ genders (link) etc. Is this not your understanding?

Would it not be clearer for all involved for the EDI policy to just read .....

<could also add> I feel it is important that our trust is clear on such matters and clearly follows the law as otherwise we could find ourselves open to legal claims of discrimination.

Kind regards

Theeyeballsinthesky · 04/07/2023 07:49

sex And gender are not the same & organisations can’t go around unilaterally changing the words of acts of Parliament

There’s no qualifier in the equality act so I can’t see why they need one here

tourdefrance · 04/07/2023 07:46

They are using the correct word (sex) but feeling it needs explained for people who are used to seeing gender. Is it free text or 2 options only? If the latter I would leave it.

My HR mandatory interview training listed gender as a protected characteristic. I queried this, saying it was sex in the Equality Act and they said they’d have to check with the EDI lead!