Gender Bias and Borderline or Outright Illegal References to Gender, Appea

[stevenleser]

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_steven_l_060711_gender_bias_and_bord.htm

Subject(s): Employers, Sexism, Sexual Harrassment, Womens Issues, Work, Workplace
July 11, 2006 at 10:08:04

Gender Bias and Borderline or Outright Illegal References to Gender, Appearance and Age Still Rampant on Employment Scene

by Steven Leser

My apologies in advance to Craigslist. I think Craigslist is one of the best inventions of the internet age. I have found my last three apartments on Craigslist. I have bought and sold items on Craigslist. It is because of the ease of use of Craigslist that I referenced jobs posted there in this article. I do not think it is Craigslist's responsibility to monitor content of the millions of ads on its various sites.

It is disappointing that thirty years after the beginnings of the modern women's equality movement, there is still so far to go. It does not just affect women. The four examples that I posted below are discriminatory towards men as well. As stated, men cannot obtain one of the below jobs even though there is no reason a man cannot perform the same job as well as the stated desired candidate. For any man looking for a job, that ought to provoke some righteous anger. For a woman, it reinforces the stereotype that they are only as good as their sexual parts and even then, only if they are young, good looking and 'fun'. 'Fun' is the most interesting euphemism in these ads. What is meant by 'fun'? The willingness to be the object of overt sexual desire and harassment by the male employees and customers of the firm and still wear a smile?

I also wondered what made those posting the ads stop where they did. If you are going to cross the line into gender bias and inappropriateness, why not go all the way? In item #1 below, why not just say, "We have horny male mortgage execs who would like you to be willing to lie down on the conference room table on occasion (or frequently)". In item #2, why not just say, "Our bar does not have much to offer in the way of entertainment, so our way of drawing customers in is for them to ogle pretty young female bartenders who somehow find such ogling charming. Big breasts a big plus." In item #3, why not say "Girls who find fat sweaty middle aged golfers sexy given preferential treatment". Item #4 is too easy. A store that sells high end men's clothing specifically requiring a female or excuse me, a 'Shop Girl'. The pigs that posted this ad should just say it, "Look, our clothes are just not good enough on their own to sell. If you are not there for men to stare at, they will not buy them. Going back to Item #2, most people would be surprised to discover how many job listings require a female and a photo and these are jobs like job #2 that have no reason listed why a male could not perform the job. There are thousands of jobs and requirements like these out there, some less obvious and less publicly known and some are at the most established and respected firms. Rumor has it that Bear Sterns mandates that the people working at the front desks in concierge positions at one of their NY offices have to be women and are required to wear skirts.

Where are the local, state and federal agencies that are responsible for enforcing laws dealing with employment and hiring practices? These firms are not even going out of their way to hide their discriminatory conduct. If there was any sort of will to enforce the law, these firms would be easy to catch and prosecute. It seems that protecting women against abuse and men against denial of such jobs is not a priority at any level of government.

Again, it is a sad commentary on our society and its business practices that these sorts of things are still going on. I hear a lot from certain segments of males that women do not need to fight anymore for equality, as if it is already a done deal. We all can now see that this is not the case. Not only is it not the case, those who persist in disgusting practices do not even feel the need to hide them.



1.
http://newyork.craigslist.org/que/ofc/178715743.html
Office assistant

Reply to: [e-mail]
Date: 2006-07-05, 5:41PM EDT


Energetic and dependable girl needed to assist in the daily duties at a Queens branch of a New Jersey based Mortgage company.
Must be articulate and willing to learn, the right candidate will have room for advancement.
no -- Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
no -- Please, no phone calls about this job!
no -- Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.
no -- Reposting this message elsewhere is NOT OK.


http://newyork.craigslist.org/lgi/ret/178935501.html

2.
BARTENDER NEEDED - fun, fast, friendly girl required

Reply to: [e-mail]
Date: 2006-07-06, 10:37AM EDT


Local, busy neighborhood bar with great steady clientelle is looking for experienced barmaid / barmaids for busy shifts. Must be neat and presentable, as well as fun, personable, friendly, and professional. Please send your info, experience, and photo to schedule an interview. Make sure to include your home town.

Thank you.
Job location is Nassau/Suffolk Border - South Shore



http://newyork.craigslist.org/que/ret/173724710.html

3.
Golf Course Beverage Cart Girl

Reply to: [e-mail]
Date: 2006-06-20, 10:49PM EDT


Girl Approx 18-25 years old to operate beverage cart on Golf Course.Needed 4 Days Tues,Wed,Thur,Sat. Excellent Money, Fun Job.Located in Queens.



http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/sls/171468525.html

#4
Shop Girl Needed

Reply to: [e-mail]
Date: 2006-06-14, 12:34PM EDT


Shop girl needed (part time) for high end men's clothing store in midtown manhattan. Must be familiar with working on the floor of a retail store as well as answering phones, working with customers, and computer skills. Must have a STRONG organizational sense!! Contact Sean for any further details at 212-308-2090.
Job location is midtown manhattan
Compensation: TBD
Hiring Organization:

[LynzM]

1. Methinks the author reads a bit too much into these

I certainly agree that the ads dictating that these positions must be filled with women is discriminatory. Yes.

But a lot of those other adjectives, I'm sorry, I just don't see them as sexual. Fun? Energetic? Those are words I might use myself to locate a candidate who would have the right kind of attitude (and I'm female myself).

The golf course one, ugh, yeah. But the others? Aside from the necessity of the applicant being female, I don't think there's that terrible. Flame away.

[donsu]

2. calling grown women 'girls' is a put down

nt

[Demit]

4. "Shop boy wanted"? "Boy wanted to tend bar"? Think you'd ever see that

terminology in a help wanted ad? How come in your response you talk about ads dictating that these positions must be filled with "women"--and not "girls", the way they in fact do? You can't bring yourself to say "girls" because you know how that looks. Why do you say "I'm female myself" instead of saying, "I'm a girl myself"?

If you don't think there's anything demeaning & condescending about the term "girl", why do you go to lengths to avoid it?

[LynzM]

5. Hrm, good point.

I hadn't thought about that (my avoidance of the term "girl"), but I think you're right.

Sad as it may be, society seems to still expect receptionists (the first to come to mind) and other positions to be filled by women. Not that men couldn't do the job, but it's not the expectation. I have to wonder if that will change within our lifetimes. At the moment, I don't see it.

[stevenleser]

3. I am Steve's spouse and don't have an acct..yet...but

I am the somewhat originator of this subject in our household...I told Steve that I emailed a guy...from Craigslist...that had posted the ad about the energetic and dependable..girl. Actually, the guy wrote me back and we went back and forth. You know what his initial response..."funny how we got over 300 responses...you play by your rules...we play by ours". I wrote back to him that they aren't "his" rules unless he doesn't answer...in anyway...to the labor laws etc. of the land. I also pointed out that I have a background in HR and he seemed to then stammer and try to justify himself.

Granted, Steve may have exaggerated a bit with the whole...lie on the table and get naked..etc.; however it was used to further illustrate a point.

As far as posting "fun" in an ad for an employee...it is so subjective. My idea of fun is to read and debate on forums...I don't think if I ...all book wormishly...entered one of the establishments that require "fun" as a pre-requisite...that it is what they mean.

The final word from the dude at the mortgage company...was that I don't know him...and he really really respects women..but just posted what was needed. What was needed??? I gave up after that...because you don't caste pearls to swine...you write to the powers that be and put a bee in their collective bonnets about how this type of bs is still going on...And believe you me...the Bear Stearns thing is not fiction.

One other little practice that they did there...the CEO required one of the concierge females to go up to his office with him...each morning...in his private elevator. I asked about this bullshit and was told..."he's a big important person...it is for security". Yes, right...a little bitty 5'3 woman that weighs 110 and change would put her life on the line for this buffoon. Give me a break.