Not really.
If you apply for a job and the form asks for your gender, they don't let you put "physically I am endowed with a rubbish penis but with every waking moment of my day I wish to have a vajoojoo".
( Noit happy baby orangutan, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:27, archived)

Because it's stupid.

( Noit happy baby orangutan, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:28, archived)

The form
is probably written by a thick dipshit in HR.
(Eeh Blah Gum, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:40, archived)

Pfft

( broadsword now that's fresh, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:28, archived)

They shouldn't be asking for it at all;
they should be recruiting you based on your skills and experience, but that's a different discussion.

And I don't think something is true or not according to whether it will fit on a job application.
( Bob Todd whee, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:29, archived)

they have to ask for it.
they need the stats to demostrate that they are employing without bias. Welcome to the wonderful world of HR

Think yourself it's only gender. My Scottish Hockey registration form this year asks for sexual preference.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:31, archived)

That's fecking daft.
I'd hate to think I was employed to fill a quota rather than for my skills.
( Bob Todd whee, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:32, archived)

you wouldn't be.
but once you are, they'd have to produce a report showing that their employed staff match the area demographic blah blah blah.

think yourself lucky. You'll be in great demand to fill the 0.00001% asexual cybergoth mentallist demographic.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:35, archived)

I'm not a fucking goth.

( Bob Todd whee, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:36, archived)

Goffic!
*points at you*
( WormuIus, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:39, archived)

Poo Goff!
lolz
( Dave Trouser ; the people's choice - 75% agree, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:41, archived)

So they know which of the many changing rooms they need to put you in

( Pickle Fairy is clumsily dancing away this fear, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:33, archived)

no
so they can go "oh no, we have a lower* proportion of gays playing hockey than in the general population, how do we attract more flouncing marys to scottish hockey?"

* yes, LOL, hockey is a girls game so lower higher
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:37, archived)

Are you obliged to answer that question?
They may be obliged to ask it.
( Lord Gnome, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:36, archived)

course not
same as you aren't obliged to fill in your ethnicity, religious views, etc. But it's hardly a secret and if they think they can do something useful with it, good luck toy them.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:39, archived)

My guess is
That it gives the Office of National Statistics a reason to validate its budget as much as anything else- particularly when it comes to voluntary activities. I can see the point as regards employment as a way of measuring the effects of equal employment legislation, however I think there is a misconception about that too; namely that equal employment legislation merely states that it is illegal to discriminate against people on certain bases and does not actually set quotas which is the way it's often seen.
( Lord Gnome, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:46, archived)

Age and gender and race are no longer acceptable requirements
when advertising for a job.
( turb0t, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:31, archived)

when advertising, no
but they are virtually legal requirments when applying or employing.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:32, archived)

I employed a female
to do a job that historically attracts men, but I know that times are changing. But we had to let her go, not because she was female, but because she was shit.
In my team, no two people are from the same country. Its not a choice to show that I'm being racially fair, its actually because it makes the work for the team easier, as we have to deal with people from many countries, including the countries of origin of the staff i employ.
( turb0t, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:37, archived)

I can't quite work out what you're saying here?
the only point I'm making is that these days it's pretty much compulsory for HR departments to compile stats on sex, ethnicity etc of employees and compare them with the general public so that they can hand-wring over why there aren't enough sikh lesbians in car maintainence.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:42, archived)

I'm saying that I emplyed a female
but had to let her go because she was shit at the job, not because she was female.

I'm also saying that I have employed people from many racial backgrounds, but that wasn't to be racially fair, it was because having people of different racial backgrounds made the work easier for everyone.
( turb0t, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:47, archived)

well, yes, obviously, but that wasn't what my post was about
but I wasn't accusing you of being discrimantory, sorry, it just sounded like you were validating yourself a bit.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:54, archived)

Being accused of discrimination
In a professional sense is the modern equivalent of being accused of witchcraft. It's little wonder that sometimes people can be a little too self-validatory in their approach.
( Lord Gnome, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 14:05, archived)

They are
if you're advertising for a bra-fitter. Or a penis model.
(Eeh Blah Gum, Thu 28 Aug 2008, 13:50, archived)