Page 1 of 1
Changing the gender box
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2005 3:32 pm
by Carolynn
Click here to read story
The above link, if it works properly (and it does seem to), will take you to an article about an attempt to modify employment applications in New York to include more than male/female gender choices on the forms. To me, that seems to indicate the symptoms of the problem. Employers DO care and have preferences about the gender of a prospective emplyee and do take it into account when hiring for a given job. They would gender you by just your name if that's all they had.

Do you think it will succeed widely, or just be one more attempt?
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2005 7:47 pm
by Loretta Ann
Something like that could just as easily work against us as for us with certain companies.
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2005 8:06 pm
by DonnaT
Why have gender on the forms at all? Gender should not make a difference in someone's ability to do the job.
gender box is silly, more definitions silly too
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2005 9:08 pm
by Eva
I agree with donna and lorna.
A male-female check-off is silly anyhow, since anyone with eyes can judge for themselves what gender you are. I would sign up according to their expectations if I needed or wanted the job.
Guess I'd rather have the profits of salary that allow me to cd, or whatever, than the pleasure of incriminatiing myself to people who most likely will not understand. It's simply taking the"fifth."
When entrenched, I could then do whatever I decide is best pour petite moi.
E

Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 12:11 am
by Stephanie H
I tend to think that it is not neceeary and would not enable us in anyway. It would simply create additional problems that would take a great deal of effort to suppress.
Issues like invasion of privacy, not being able to control the publishing of the information to other sources. The distibution of personal information and its interpertation by others that could be more intimating and damaging for us. We need to manage our gender issue as a privacy one and not have to worry about others perceptions that could be triggered by having an additional label.
Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 12:27 am
by CJ
Hi all,
I humbly submit to the powers that be the following proposal for a Gender Box:
Love,
CJ
Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 1:37 am
by Sonja
Ha, good one CJ. To me, gender should be a gray area.
I agree with the other girls, who needs a gender selection choice. We are who we are.
Sonja
Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 1:43 am
by Beauty
Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 10:13 am
by Kathy
I would much rather see the M/F checkbox removed entirely than to see more options added.
Kathy
Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 10:50 am
by Carolynn
Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 11:56 am
by Virginia
Hey CJ, that is great!!!
Can I check them all huh??? can I can I I wannta check 'em all!!!
But I like Eva (and again what a cutie) and the rest what the heck difference does it make? You know I use to tell my boss, " I will get the job done, on time and/or sooner and on or under budget, just leave me the hell alone." Worked for me!
Love,
Virginia
Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 3:28 pm
by Merinda
DonnaT wrote:Why have gender on the forms at all? Gender should not make a difference in someone's ability to do the job.
I agree with donna it shouldn't be on the form at all
alternatively where it asks "SEX"? , just write "yes please"! in the box.

Changing the gender box
Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 5:06 pm
by Leslie Langford
Salut, CJ!
Omigod! - so many genders, so little time!!!
What's a guy/girl/whatever to do?
I think I'll go out and buy that new pair of Nine West pumps that I have had my eye on before my brain explodes! Or pig out on some poutine, perhaps.
Decisions, decisions! And when did Micheael Jackson become an option? Weren't you planning to restrict this gender breakdown to the denizens of this planet?
Leslie
P.S - Have you seen a picture of k.d. lang lately? I don't know what happened to her, but she now resembles the Goodyear blimp. A real shame!
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2005 4:52 pm
by Bernice
Bernice is almost always so very late to the party...
I too, laughed hard enough to hurt myself when reviewing CJ's suggested list.
Yes, I have begun selecting "Prefer not to divulge" for sex/gender on job applications. I do not know what affect this has had on my lack of success finding work.
As I have stated elsewhere on this forum, there is no binary gender. We are all whatevever we are, on a continuum.
Gender in the job application process is discrimination, even when used to satisfy the Feds that some percentage of "claimed females" have been hired.
Hugs,
Bernice