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

[JobHuntingPerson]

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.

I’d put prefer not to say, just because I wouldn’t want to dignify that question with an answer, as someone who doesn’t believe in gender. Otherwise I’d put non binary as I sometimes wear trousers and I’m handy with a screwdriver.

What a load of bollocks, all the more so without even asking sex first.

I wouldn't carry on applying!

None of those are words I'd use to "identify" myself.

I thought Trans people didn't want to be reminded of their Trans status? So who is this meant to be for?

Apart from anything else, putting "intersex" as a gender identity, alongside "queer" and the rest, is very wrong.

Intersex is a medical condition about which a prospective employer has no right to enquire without first seeking permission to access a candidate's medical records!

@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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

@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?

• 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.

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

Sorry x post

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

Everyone got there before me.

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

@Floisme

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

🙄

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

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

ye gads

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