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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Institutional Sexism

74 replies

RoseByAnyOtherName · 16/12/2010 21:31

I received the Mumsnet weekly email today, and noticed an advert for work on the 2011 census. Having not worked since having children 7 and a half years ago I thought this would be an ideal opportunity to do some part time work and see how work fitted in with family life, without taking on a long term commitment. But guess what: the census work is between either 21st March - 6th May or 6th April - 6th May. And which major school holiday falls during that period: the 9th - 25th April are the school Easter holidays. Surely it should be illegal for a major government employment programme [they state they will be recruiting 35000 people], which is for 4 to 6 weeks only, advertising specifically to 'returning parents', to coincide with a national 2 week school holiday.

The census could be held outside the Easter holiday period without too much inconvenience to anyone. To hold it during that period actively discriminates against prospective employees with family responsibilities. Is the State breaking any (of its own) laws?

OP posts:
NotANaturalGeordie · 16/12/2010 21:33

Interesting post. I would say we have a case for indirect sex discrimination on the grounds you have mentioned, but I'm a sociologist, not a solicitor Wink

AliceWorld · 16/12/2010 21:33

If the current government were breaching any equality laws, they'd soon get rid of them, then no breach of law...

hairyfairylights · 16/12/2010 21:45

It's nit sexist but it is biased against people of any gender with school age children!

Lynli · 16/12/2010 21:49

Your assumption that a certain sex is responsible for child care is sexist.

AnyFuckerForAMincePie · 16/12/2010 21:51

if you take almost any 3-4 month period there will be a major school holiday within it

I get what you are saying, but I dunno what the solution is

the census is done at that time of year for good reason, I suspect, so your point is moot really

madwomanintheattic · 16/12/2010 21:53

it's dumb, but it's not discriminatory.

TattyDevine · 16/12/2010 21:55

Why is it specifically you that has to cover this childcare? Is your husband sexist?

TattyDevine · 16/12/2010 21:55

Can you not get childcare like any other working parent?

WidowWadman · 16/12/2010 22:01

Can't see any sexism there. Nothing is stopping you from booking childcare.

AliceWorld · 16/12/2010 22:08

I think it's discriminatory too Rose. I was being facetious to start with but with the other replies feel the need to say. You'd get a load of blah blah blah if you tried to do anything about it, but I do agree. There's a default position there that favours some lifestyles over others, and there is a gender divide in those lifestyles.

OldLadyKnowsNothing · 16/12/2010 22:14

I managed to fit in beimg a fulltime SAHM (days) with census work twenty years ago; the census work can be done in the evenings (if it's the lowliest enumerators we're talking about.)

Avantia · 16/12/2010 22:25

I think you need to look at the bigger picture here and why we have a census - last one was held in April - so would still cover Easter holidays - etc .

It is an important piece of social history as well as country being able to plan for future - you would be able to work evenings and weekends ?

Original poster
RoseByAnyOtherName · 16/12/2010 23:38

It's sexist because my responsibilities to my children limit my options to take on employment. I have not stated what sex I am, and actually whether I am male or female is not relevant; it is the fact that I am a parent that limits my options in a way that discriminates against me compared to the options I had before I had children.

When the employer is a large organisation such as the state they have a duty to ensure the employment they offer is accessible to all eligible competent citizens, and the hours of employment should not be a barrier to otherwise suitable candidates. In particular, where the work is temporary for a period of not more than 6 weeks, it should not have a 2 week school holiday slap in the middle of it.

OP posts:
huddspur · 16/12/2010 23:47

Its limiting to people with children but you can't say its sexist. Those jobs are presumably around this time because this is when the census is being carried out and so can't be done at a different time of year.

colditz · 16/12/2010 23:49

being a parent is not a gender, so you have just shot yourself in the foot with that one. If you can be equally affected by their working conditions whether you are a male parent or a female one, it's not sexism, is it?

SamJones · 16/12/2010 23:49

If your gender is not relevant then by definition this is not sexism.
I get what you are saying but if you are trying to return to work then childcare during holidays will have to be catered for at some point.

colditz · 16/12/2010 23:50

That's like saying Argos are being sexcist for advertising Jobs for the Christmas run up - everyone knows parents are busy at that time of the year.

notjustapotforsoup · 17/12/2010 00:30

It's parentist, if you want to be *ist about it. Or perhaps it is nothing of the sort. Do the job or don't do the job, your childcare issues are neither here or there, in their minds.

If we had full employment, then perhaps there would be a creche on offer. But I'm afraid we don't. It is not the business of the employer whether you have family or not, barring existing regulation. In fact, it is enshrined in law that you can't be asked about it interview. Surely you don't want it both ways?

ShoppingDays · 17/12/2010 00:34

If nearly all the childcare in school holidays is statistically done by women then I think there could be a case for this being considered indirect sex discrimination.

mayorquimby · 17/12/2010 00:42

"actually whether I am male or female is not relevant; it is the fact that I am a parent that limits my options"

So not sexist then?

ivykaty44 · 17/12/2010 00:54

change the school holidays - the census has been taken in this country since 1801 in march april, apart from a census in june and that again would fall at whitsun now which is another school holiday - i suggest that you take this up with the education authority if you don't like the timings of their holidays to fit in with the census that came along long before their department did

notjustapotforsoup · 17/12/2010 00:57

If nearlyall childcare is done by women then there is a case for men to stop up to the fecking plate.

ShoppingDays · 17/12/2010 01:02

True notjustapotforsoup. But if most-childcare-is-done-by-women-in-holidays is currently the case, then the dates for this vacancy are sexist... is what I meant.

notjustapotforsoup · 17/12/2010 01:07

Not more so than any other job, is it?

I am about as feminist as they come these days, but no pass on this one. Fight for equality in marriage or adequate and affordable childcare in this case, I'm afraid.

And visit the feminism boardWink

ivykaty44 · 17/12/2010 01:08

so what about school holiday childcare jobs - is that sexist against woman as they will be looking after their own children?