Small wins - Company changes policy wording!

[Pixilicious]

Last Tuesday I emailed our Director of Compliance and Ethics:

"Hi Director

Detailed in Corporate Policy xxx - Human Rights - there is a statement, as below, that lists all the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, plus others, but excludes Sex. Can you tell me why this has been omitted please?

"COMPANYNAME promotes diversity and equality and does not unfairly discriminate on any ground, including (but not limited to): race, caste, religion, colour, ancestry, marital status, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy, maternity, age, nationality, ethnic origin, disability, veteran status or any other category protected by applicable law."

I do find it concerning that more and more sex and gender are being used interchangeably when they are not the same thing. The language we use is important, as sex, the biology of male and female, is what is protected in law, not gender, the social construct/stereotypes of masculinity and femininity.

Is there an opportunity to review our policies to ensure we use the word sex where we actually do mean sex?

Thanks, Pixilicious"

After a short email conversation, he's emailed me today to say they have changed it to Sex and it has been approved and will be published shortly!

Woo Hoo!!!

Now for me to go through some more poicies and scrutinise the wording....

Well done

Well done Pixilicious! 😃

Well done Pixilicious!
I saw a post (think it was Posie on FB) this week saying that instead of arguing with men online about what a woman was, she was going to contact relevant organisations etc and influence things that way. I've just emailed my council this;

Good morning
I am just looking at school places for next year and note that your application form asks for my child's gender. It should be sex (male/female) rather than gender (masculine/feminine). My child doesn't have a gender (stereotype?) but she is female, so could you consider revising when this is next drafted please?
Using gender rather than sex is confusing and inappropriate given the Equality Act 2010 includes sex as a protected characteristic, which is relevant in this case for primary school statistics and provision.

Small steps!

McDuffy my child's school/nursery form said the same. I just silently raged inside but perhaps I should be actually approaching the council about it...

Do it! Some might not be aware but it's the stealth creep...

@McDuffy -good work, if we all chip away we can make big changes

I’m pleased to read this, Pixi.

Please—because I am a pedant—will you clarify that the word sex will replace the word gender so the policy will read “marital status, SEX, gender reassignment.”

That is, they’re not going to say “marital status, SEX, gender, gender reassignment,”?

Because that’s the coward’s way.