Is this sex discrimination?

Spendless

Idiophreak wrote: »

Actually, I'm a "young man" and have had questions around this area at certain interviews - where they want people who don't have much in the way of family life slowing them down. I answered honestly, didn't really see it as a big deal

Do you have children?

Debt_Free_Chick

sportbeth wrote: »

The principle still remains. It's not about the cash its about the unfairness

I know there have been a number of posts since this but ...... I completely agree with you.

Forget about gender for a minute and think of this .,....... EVERYONE who went to represent the company should be treated the same. Just that.

Good on you for seeing it the way you did - at least you can look back on the event with dignity and integrity.

skintchick

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

Forget about gender for a minute and think of this .,....... EVERYONE who went to represent the company should be treated the same. Just that.

Exactly. That's why I think it IS a big deal and I don;t really understand why other people think it isn;t.

UKTigerlily

What happened????

Ephemera

Nicki wrote: »

Hmmm which bit of "pick your battles" wasn't clear? :rolleyes:

Lack of vote, inability to own property after marriage, subject to physical chastisement by husband and marital rape

vs

having to pay for your dress when men don't pay for their suit.

Both wrong and unfair. I'm not for a moment saying otherwise, but only one in my view is worth going to the stake over. Obviously everyone has to make their own choices about what their tipping point is, but I felt it was worth offering the other perspective, rather than have sportsbeth sitting at home by Christmas celebrating her pyrrhic victory and polishing up her CV. At which point, I still wonder whether she'd think it was all worth it for the benefit of those left behind

Thin end of the wedge?

You do have a point, and at the end of the day it is up to the OP to do what is right for HER.

And I won't argue with you.....

vegankris

liney wrote: »

Ladies in their 20's are likely to have babies if married/coupled, ladies in their 30's without children are likely to have babies as their clock is ticking by now, and ladies in their 40's are the least likely to have babies, but the odd one will go ahead as a late starter or have a happy accident. Drop in the 'lift conversation' ie waiting room/walking through corridor/using the lift together chats, prior or after the intererview which are not actually part of the interview and are often seen as 'idle' conversation, you can gleen an awful lot of information.

Some one will now say 'I'm in my 20's and i'm never going to have children" which is fine - but the fact remains my list does apply to the majority of women. It's not that difficult to predict.

This is so very true. Even though I AM in fact in my late 20s, and never going to have children, I'm aware that I'm very much in the minority on this issue. I know that employers, particularly smaller companies, assume I'll want to start a family soon due to my age and sex, and that it might put them off me.

sportbeth- good luck- I hope it all goes well for you!

patchwork_cat

To the poster who said the thread was getting tetchy - I think that we are all agreed on one thing this treatment is unfair. The only thing being DEBATED ( we must remember it is a debate and not take it personally) is how best to deal with it.

scotty1971

looks like OP has given up on this thread

Sami_Bee

scotty1971 wrote: »

looks like OP has given up on this thread

I don't blame her :rolleyes:

Just on the current subject, I am currently unemployed and have been since mid july, I have never previously had trouble finding work in fact whenever I've looked for a job I've had at least 3 offers to choose from until I had a child - I refuse to believe that I can't even get an interview for anything even jobs that are "bellow" me (in terms of past experience) for any other reason than they assume I'll be having another soon/ unwilling to do over time (these assumption are both correct) its not "right" its not fair its not legal but it happens!

I once worked for a company that wouldn't even consider employing anyone who was "fat" "ugly" or "old" of course candidates weren't told that was the reason but it was openly discussed in the office - I was just happy that I passed the good looking test and got it

poet123

I explained the issues behind this thread to my son today,and knowing me well he immediately assumed I was in the "take it as far as you can camp".

I am a feminist,and quite combative,stand up for principles,and have gone to court in the past over what others may consider uinimportant points. He assumed what my stance would be. He now knows I am also a pragmatist,......and has learned a valuable lesson for his career as a lawyer,never assume you know how another person will react to any given situation.