Can I talk about being female in a male industry or is it sex descrimination?

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I'm about to send out some letters to drum up some work. There are very few women doing my job and we do go into peoples homes, so I think that Mum's or the elderly will feel less indimidated then if I were male. However, can I say this in a letter or is not allowed under the sex descrimination act? Can anyone help?

There is a plaster near me who advertises herself as "Lady Plasterer". She has been doing it for years.

If you're staing a fact then I don't think you can get in trouble for it.

So stating your gender is ok.

Saying "I am female and therefore more trustworthy/better,etc is not fine"

Yes, I think stripyknickers is right. We have a local taxi firm that is run by women with women drivers, and advertise the fact. I don't think you can claim anything on the fact that you are female, but can allow it to be known as your gender can be used as a selling point without you making any claims on it, IYSWIM. It is up to your potential customers then to decide whether to hire you on the basis of your gender so long as you do not try to influence the decision on this basis.

Mmm I would be employed by a third party as was thinking of saying something along the lines of'Mothers at home and the elderly may be less intimidated by a woman' - do you think that's ok or not? Sounds like not?

No, I don't think you would be able to say that.

Although most people who might be in a position to be intimidated would think that for themselves if they know you are a woman.

If you did say that then men doing that job in your area would have a right to complain (maybe), saying that you are suggesting that people should be intimidated by them.