Quick gender discrimination question

Guest101

On my social media I saw someone posting a job advert basically (it was 4 lines long)


- Ann summers parties - looking for two 18+ women only to host / attend parties and basically sell.


Now whilst I understand the commercial benefit in hiring a woman for this kind of thing. Where's the legality of the women only aspect.


The poster added that the policy was not to hire men from a safety perspective.


Interested to hear thoughts (no I'm not applying!)

[Deleted User]

'Safety' isn't a decent consideration.. but 'Occupational requirement' is

https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance/sex-discrimination

If the company feels like only Women can sell other Women naughty Ann Summers stuff (which sounds fairly true) then it's within the law

It's also specifically mentioned within this FOI request - https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/401360/response/972836/attach/html/7/3.Discrimination%20Guidance.pdf.html

Guest101

ringo_24601 wrote: »

'Safety' isn't a decent consideration.. but 'Occupational requirement' is

https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance/sex-discrimination

If the company feels like only Women can sell other Women naughty Ann Summers stuff (which sounds fairly true) then it's within the law

It's also specifically mentioned within this FOI request - https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/401360/response/972836/attach/html/7/3.Discrimination%20Guidance.pdf.html

See this is the interesting thing, because men can work in the shop, but not as a 'party planner', ie not in the clients home.


So the selling aspect doesn't ring true (though I don see the commercial point of view)

[Deleted User]

Guest101 wrote: »

See this is the interesting thing, because men can work in the shop, but not as a 'party planner', ie not in the clients home.


So the selling aspect doesn't ring true (though I don see the commercial point of view)

An A.S. shop has men and women as customers. Anyone can shop there.

A party has just women as the hosts and the customers. It's the equivalent situation as an 'all womens gym'

Guest101

ringo_24601 wrote: »

An A.S. shop has men and women as customers. Anyone can shop there.

A party has just women as the hosts and the customers. It's the equivalent situation as an 'all womens gym'

seems reasonable, was just interested

Undervalued

Guest101 wrote: »

On my social media I saw someone posting a job advert basically (it was 4 lines long)


- Ann summers parties - looking for two 18+ women only to host / attend parties and basically sell.


Now whilst I understand the commercial benefit in hiring a woman for this kind of thing. Where's the legality of the women only aspect.


The poster added that the policy was not to hire men from a safety perspective.


Interested to hear thoughts (no I'm not applying!)

Not my area of expertise!

However, in some circumstances it can be perfectly lawful to discriminate and this could well be one of them. However I am not sure their safety argument is the correct one to use.

Suppose a ladies clothes shop wants a specialist bra fitter? I would imagine (hope!) it would be perfectly lawful to exclude men!

PasturesNew

Undervalued wrote: »

Suppose a ladies clothes shop wants a specialist bra fitter? I would imagine (hope!) it would be perfectly lawful to exclude men!

I agree... but what would be the difference between a gay man doing the job and a lesbian with a b00b fetish?

eh?

jobbingmusician

A very good analogy. I expect AS parties do sell bras. An unexpected thing I learned from mystery shopping is that AS sell delectable (non rude) underwear - in addition to less practical stuff such as crotchless knickers, of course!

sangie595

PasturesNew wrote: »

I agree... but what would be the difference between a gay man doing the job and a lesbian with a b00b fetish?

eh?

So what's the punchline?

Hermia

ringo_24601 wrote: »

An A.S. shop has men and women as customers. Anyone can shop there.

A party has just women as the hosts and the customers. It's the equivalent situation as an 'all womens gym'

A friend goes to AS parties and she said they often have naughty games and confessions to get the women laughing and in the mood. I can imagine a lot of women would clam up if a man was there. In the shop I assume the staff would only discuss the products if the customer asked so it's not so important.

w06

jobbingmusician wrote: »

An unexpected thing I learned from mystery shopping is that AS sell delectable (non rude) underwear - in addition to less practical stuff such as crotchless knickers, of course!

i (female) was unaware of this too, until waiting slightly mortified outside a shop few years ago, whilst a friend who had just started going out with another friend bought unspecified items, me really not wanting to know ... she came out with decent knickers and pjs!