Monitoring sex equality

[Sexequality]

Changed names for this.

Local council equalities and diversity monitoring form for recruitment only records gender not sex. I put in a complaint and got this response:

“I understand that one of my colleagues has explained to you that the form you refer to is an out of date one that we are seeking to have removed from all sources, and that the categories on the form are agreed with all 32 local authorities in Scotland and as such it is not within ACC’s power to change the contents unilaterally; we have been in touch with MyJobScotland asking for an update on changing the terminology of the forms, and will confirm the position to you once we have a response from them.“

They don’t say it is being changed to sex though.

This is what ‘Myjobscotland’ say on their website:

Why do you use the term 'gender' on equality monitoring and other documents?

COSLA and myjobscotland use the term ‘gender’ in equalities monitoring and other documents because we believe it leads to more accurate data being collected which helps us to better protect people who are likely to experience inequalities. We recognise that the Equality Act 2010 refers to ‘sex’, but this is the legislative minimum standard. We do not believe that using the term ‘gender’ compromises the legal protections afforded to women and girls or men and boys. In common with other public sector bodies in Scotland we understand that a binary definition can be problematic for some people, and so on our equalities monitoring form we have a non-binary question that allows people to self-define where necessary.

We have consulted with Stonewall Scotland and Scottish Councils Equalities Network to ensure we follow best practice on our equality monitoring and other documents.

Who the fuck decided that Stonewall was the authority on 'best practice'? Were we consulted?

So they are going to not bother doing any monitoring on the basis of sex, a protected characteristic.

And furthermore they believe that doing anything based on sex isn't worth nothing with (minimum standard).

Well that's very straightforward, their thoughts about women/girls are clear.

A lot of companies already heavily discriminate against women and I know very senior people who have said they would prefer to hire transitioned women instead of natal women as the former wouldn’t take up mat leave.

Gender pay gap data is based on self declared gender. (Although presumably you would have had to have told hr).

Whole point of gender pay directive was because women are often paid less/there are functions in place that stop them progressing etc. The reason being A mish mash of stuff coming back to biology.

But no apparently it's nothing to do with that, it's because we perform femininity.

I didn't know that not performing femininity meant women could get male wage and promotion opportunities, you learn something every day

I have written asking what grass roots women’s organisations they consulted before deciding to remove protections.

How strange that it's an out of date form - MyJobScotland told me they in the process of updating the form a year ago.

So assuming its staying as gender, can we women have fun with it?
Gender is what you say it is, so umm "make up" a gender. Be creative. If they get say 2 responses for a whippet whipped dayglo fuzz as a gender how will that help with equalities monitoring. They will have to report it somewhere I guess.
If enough women and men do this it will skew stats.
I mean I know women will lose out, but currently we are anyway.
Ooh and demand a toilet set aside for you, a sports league and a entire prison.

I got a reply:

“Hello,

Thank you for contacting myjobscotland and your comments. We are aware that the current equality monitoring form is out of date, the form has been under review by our member groups.

The content of the form needs to be agreed by all 44 members of myjobscotland so unfortunately agreeing the changes through each of these Organisations has taken longer than we would have liked.

We have asked for sign of on the newly agreed form by January 10th and hope to implement the new content shortly afterwards.

Best wishes,
myjobscotland
Best wishes

The myjobscotland Team
www.myjobscotland.gov.uk”

So no commitment to ensure they monitor sex equality. Might be worth other people emailing them too.