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Japanese firms start to reconsider asking for resumes to specify gender

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Meh. This is another LGBTQr2d2 article in disguise. I thought it was about practices in HR but half way through the article, it's about transgenders.

7 ( +24 / -17 )

As a business owner, if an applicant refused to tell me their gender, I would give up hiring them. I refuse to play silly games.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

The answer to Gender is simple - as a rule, there are only two types of washroom. Which one will scream less as you enter it? Circle that gender.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

If any job applicant was so supersensitive as to be offended by having to reveal his, her or its gender, real or imagined, I certainly wouldn't hire them.

5 ( +17 / -12 )

International norm, or international stupidity ?

4 ( +13 / -9 )

If they just abolish archaic hand written nonsense type of CVs and start accepting printed ones like in the rest of the world then gender issue explaned here would be addressed as well. But no, your handwriting can tell what kind of person are you.....

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Even if indicating gender on resumes is eliminated. firms can still eliminate undesirable applicants at job interviews.

2 ( +12 / -10 )

sure want see person on photo.

sure want to know if its male or female.

question-why this should be considered as "strange"?or "discriminating"?

It isn't. Because a tiny group of people are very noisy doesn't increase their numbers.

Ignore them.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Its only the Specail kids requesting special treatment , majority of folks are fine with things.

Sorry but hey, every has to comply to the same requirements.

If you are a gay transexual man using a japanese girls name while attending to clients it may not be a good look , deal with it !

Not the image we were looking for SORRY !

and footnote Every one DOES not have to be comfortable with YOUR life choices buttercup.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Employees represent the company in different ways. Just depends on what the company would like the employee being sought for a position to represent.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Transgender people are estimated to be about 0.6% of the population.

Why do we devote so much effort into thinking about them? Why do we have to change all the rules and the bathrooms and everything else to accommodate the one person out of a couple hundred? And of the transgender population, how many transgender are actually all mad and offended about all this stuff? Probably not all of them.

The only people I see who are mad and offended about everything seem to be straight white people trying to virtue signal.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

girl_in_tokyoNov. 16 10:31 pm JST

majority of folks are fine with transgender people.

Got any citation, facts, statistics to back up this outlandish statement?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

girl_in_tokyoNov. 16 10:31 pm JST

majority of folks are fine with transgender people.

So once more I ask got any facts citations to back up your claim ?

Got any citation, facts, statistics to back up this statement? Majority of folks ............. hmmmmmm

I see you didn't post anything so i take it as NO !

Polls conducted in Japan show wide support,

Which polls, ones conducted at gay areas was it?

Show the facts if you have them which polls which facts?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Requiring photos - speaking to you, Toyota - is also a discriminatory practice. What does a photo tell us about someone's intelligence, social abilities or moral compass?

1 ( +22 / -21 )

While we all have different opinions on the topic and many do not and didn't have any problems with the issue, many of us do and are having problems with it.

So my two yens:

Personally i haven't encountered yet an application form that actually asks for gender. All my life it just asked for sex.

But i don't read kanji so here in Japan i don't actually know if there's such a thing.

But if there are only two options it's safe to say it's asking for what your sex is.

So just put, circle or tick off what sex appears in your birth certificate.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

If showing a potential employer your photo is a problem then maybe you should do something about your general appearance or attitude to begin with.

You got something to hide ?

The look on someones face, their expression, the look in the eyes can often explain who they are, not always but often.

If you want a job then you will do your best to get it wouldn't you?

Not whine about this and about that .

Dont you have to submit your DOB. and Sex to the goverment when getting a visa? Or city hall? or other places for formal purposes ?

Showing your potential future boss a photos scares you ?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Sometimes you can judge a person by their shoes too..............................old world stuff, amazing it still relevant today too.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Eeeehhhh!??......Demo,...Wouldn't that strongly effect their kyabakura industry and culture?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

This is 2020. In many countries around the world, LGBTQIA, of which transpeople are a part, are gaining widespread acceptance. There are 29 countries that do not discriminate against LGBTQIA in marriage, and there are movements towards eliminating that discrimination in many other countries, including Japan.

Polls conducted in Japan show wide support, and there is a clear majority opinion towards eliminating all forms of discrimination. That includes forcible outing, one form of which is requiring transpeople to write their birth gender on their resume.

Information on gender minorities is readily available, so there is no real excuse for continuing to discriminate against them and harbor personally held prejudices that are based solely on fear and ignorance.

It's about time the Japanese government took this step, as it is an important one in demonstrating support for transpeople in living their lives as ordinary citizens, which includes being able to apply for a job without fear that they will be outed on a job application form.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Are you kidding?

It works both ways.

So many brainless idiots are hired for their looks.

0 ( +9 / -9 )

JJ Jetplane Today 01:16 pm JST

@Bjorn

, a person who is nicely presenting themselves can tell you alot about them

Seen many well dressed people that can barely tie their own shoes. As a banker, I've seen so many millionaire's that are badly dressed. Many serial killer looked like normal everyday people. So what exactly does an appearance on a photo show you about capabilities? It just shows you can take a photo. Nothing more.

And JJ I have seen many with degrees who would not have a clue about anything, and seems as though they think the earth is flat the way they think !

Judging people by appearances it not great but it can also help you select the appropriate candidates for the vacant position.

Wading through 100s of applicants takes time too.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Japanese firms start to reconsider asking for resumes to specify gender

No pictures? No gender? Fine. Do it.

But as long as management still have the old boys network and nothing but grumpy old oyaji, none of that matters. The narrow minded no future seeking pencil pushers will still be making the final decisions. Get them out first!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Kniknaknokkaer Today 03:04 pm JS

I think you'll find that a lot of women are also not OK with transgenders, especially when it comes to them using womens sacred toilet space.

They need to get over it. It's 2020 and well past time to drop the bigotry.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

For newcomers to Japan, after Sony started selling transistor radios in the United States, it was one of the first companies (40-45 years ago--maybe more) to prohibit a picture or address on a resume. Then it went to last name only during the final screening. They needed it later after selection for 同姓同名.

Why address? Many Japanese companies also use(d) Buraku Maps to look up an applicant's address to determine if a "permanent home address" was in a Buraku area. If it was, they would eliminate the applicant or put them in a very undesirable position to quit. It was and is, of course, illegal, but no one does anything about it. Some Japanese companies still use areas and names as a hint, but it took 150 years to slow down this kind of discrimination. Still, many Japanese companies use age, pictures, addresses, last names, and work backward, i.e., looking at reasons NOT to hire instead of WHY to hire.

Sony does the opposite. They look for any spark, which indicates talent, and finds a place for every employee to thrive. Sony was and still is a leader in eliminating discrimination, and a friend who works there says they need people who can work to make creative and quality products.

p.s. I have never worked for Sony or even tried, but I have many friends who are proud of being pioneers.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Japanese companies are looking for conformity and team players in their talent searches. They are not looking for personnel who will rock the boat's stability or be non-conformists. If these resume facets are eliminated, the companies will find other tools to weed out non-conformists, such as interviews, role-playing exercises, social media searches, and the like. Personnelists can be very clever at this.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

A more valuable question on an application would be if the applicant is a smoker or not. Toss the positive responses out as that future employee would be spending much of their paid time running outside to feed their addiction, and returning to pollute the office with the fumes on their skin and clothes. Does not matter one's gender or appearance when it comes to JT's addiction slaves. That's my two-yen on this.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

So you cant verify your claims "Most Folks" or show citations because its made up isnt it.

If this were an honest inquiry, and you really wanted to know, you would find out for yourself.

I also suspect that if you found something that proved me wrong, you'd rush here to post it.

In other words, I don't believe for an instant that you care about the truth or that you would change your mind if I presented evidence. I don't think you argue in good faith at all - and the only reason I ever reply to you is to show any LGBTQIA lurkers that there are plenty of people who care about them and love them for who they are. This reply is not for you; it's for them.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

What does a photo tell us about someone's intelligence, social abilities or moral compass?

Not a damn thing, but companies require photos because they want to see who they are hiring, and if their "looks" are appealing or not.

Have to remember that many of these large corporations still have outdated ideas of mass hiring, and do not hire based upon actual ability, but internal "exam scores", and numerous interviews, for some companies as many as 4 or 5. Oh and looks too!

But they have to pass the "do they look good in a picture" test before even getting an opportunity to start the interview process!

-1 ( +11 / -12 )

 the photo requirement has affected me many times when it comes to finding jobs in Japan.

Sorry to hear that. But as i mentioned above though, it may not be the photo strictly that's the issue, it could be the one looking at the photo.

Maybe you can look at it another way, it saved you a lot of unnecessary trips to unproductive interviews.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

So you get 2 applicants, with exact similar competences, one with ugly face and one with a lovely face.

Do you really think as a recruiter you are not going to apply the natural selection criteria of esthetic fairness ?

Stop being hypocritical !

It is part of a normal criteria, because in fact it implies, a priori, a better health.

Why would people clean, dress well and trim for ?

And stop believing there is a third sex in our species. There is not scientifically. It does not mean transgender shall not be treated and respected, as much as they respect the F and M boxes to tick.

I would not mind hiring such profile, except if they start willing to be treated with special favors.

-1 ( +8 / -9 )

"Getting rid of the gender section on applications will help prevent discrimination,"

Pretty usless statment, you always come face-to-face during an interview.

Gender should have nothing to do with my job," said Hori, "I am neither male nor female."

but

Hori asks to "work as a man"

Well that's confusing.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

The sad part is it took LGBT movement to get this rolling....

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

So you cant verify your claims "Most Folks" or show citations because its made up isnt it.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Patricia Yarrow

And if asking if a person is a smoker, would you ask how often? Some people might smoke 20-40 cigs a day. Some people might have one cig a day. Big difference!

“Do you/Don’t you” questions with everything now leads to the us-vs.-them mentality you have in societies today.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Hori marked "female" as instructed by the board of education but was again rejected after showing up to the interview in a necktie.

It may not have been the reason or the only reason. I can't ever remember been told exactly why I didn't get a job. I wish I had been, because in hindsight, a collection of them would now be amusing.

I don't think many Japanese companies want new recruits to have strong opinions on anything, never mind a complex subject like gender. Your job is to shut up and do what you are told.

-2 ( +8 / -10 )

Should just get rid of those who require you go to have an interview to get a job, then you can all just get the jobs you think you are all entitled to with out having any troubles.

Being an employer a persons gender is relevant , perhaps lifting or other heavy work is involved in the job, and appearance is also and issue , a person who is nicely presenting themselves can tell you alot about them and the same for a scruffy persons appearance.

The employers have the right to view and know about who they will be interviewing and employing, and many dont have he time to meet 100s of potential applicant s when most of them are the wrong type size fit build or SEX.

But then guessing most of you got a trophy just for competing at school.

-2 ( +12 / -14 )

Blame the recruitment agencies. They ignore recruitment law to bend to client specifics.

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

If they want something from me, they have to send me their applications, with photos of the location, company building, already hired staff and a detailed description of their financial situation. But of course they are not obliged to do so, it’s also part of their freedom to face bankruptcy in the very near future.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Transgender people are estimated to be about 0.6% of the population.

True. But:

Less than 1% of people have peanut allergies. But even though they are a tiny minority, the food service industry, including airlines, have taken steps towards eliminating peanuts from menus and labeling food accurately to keep them safe.

Less than 1% of people are deaf.

Less than 1% of the population is blind.

Less than 1% of people have gluten allergies.

At any one time, only around 5% of the population is pregnant.

Why do we devote so much effort into thinking about them? Why have we put effort into changing all the rules, e.g., the dedicated seats on trains, ingredient lists on menus, closed captions on TV and movies, Braille on everything, music at traffic signals, and other changes to accommodate the one person out of a couple hundred?

*Because they are human beings deserving of care, compassion, and respect - that's why.*

Care, compassion and respect are not "virtue signaling" - they are basic human decency.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Also, "sacred toilet space"? What exactly do you men think we are doing in there? hahaha...

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

An internet petition campaign stressing that such practices can lead to discrimination has collected over 10,000 signatures, while at least one major company has altered its rules to scrap both requirements and even stop asking for applicants' first names.

Lol, one company out of how many million companies ?

-3 ( +7 / -10 )

WOW its about time!!! Good News!!! Getting a job in Japan is very age selective. Also, Japanese companies requires you to hand written your CV for every company a new grad is applying for and they also will judge the new grad based on looks, and how pretty your hand writing is on your CV to get a job. I'm so happy they finally change this old fascist way of thinking.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

I worked side by side with a transgender man, which appeared to be a biological female dressed as a man, and we were bartenders. I had absolutely no problem with "him", however, the customers were merciless and constantly asking "are you really a man?" and it only got worse as they drank more. That is one tough row to hoe.

Woah, sounds miserable for him. Sound to me like people should have better education so that they aren't needlessly cruel to marginalised people.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

It's only certain straight men who complaining about so-called "special treatment" - the majority of folks are fine with transgender people.

Weirdly, a lot of cis women (especially Brits, for some reason) can be quite TERFy, too. They're a minority, granted, but a very vocal one.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Bjorn Tomention Today 01:42 pm JST

Got any citation, facts, statistics to back up this statement? Majority of folks ............. hmmmmmm

I see you didn't post anything so i take it as NO !

Which polls, ones conducted at gay areas was it?

Show the facts if you have them which polls which facts?

Here you are:

girl_in_tokyo Today 11:56 am JST

Information on gender minorities is readily available, so there is no real excuse for continuing to discriminate against them and harbor personally held prejudices that are based solely on fear and ignorance.

If you really want to learn about this, you can google it yourself, can't you.

If you don't, well, then .... I have to assume you don't really want to know.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

In Japan it is against recruitment law to state age or show a photo. 

Thanks for the info, good to know

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

This doesn't work since too many Japanese parents name their daughters with a name ending Ko(子), making it easy to guess an applicant's gender.

This comment is so "Showa" In Heisei and now Reiwa this is hardly the norm and more the exception!

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Transgender people are estimated to be about 0.6% of the population.

Why do we devote so much effort into thinking about them?

Because transgender people are estimated to be about 0.6% of the population. In Japan, that estimate would be about 780,000 people. Three quarters of a million Japanese citizens.

The question is why they shouldn't be included in consideration as to how society should operate. It's a significant number of living human beings you are trying to discount as being not even worthy of thought.

Classy.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

but that may be about to change.

Yeah right, I'll believe it when I see it!

-5 ( +6 / -11 )

If discrimination is eliminated, there won't be a reason to remove those info, unless they are totally unnecessary.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

I haven't updated myself awhile, but do Japanese employers still request a handwritten CV (without any blank on working history section)? That die-hard practice is obsolete and should be removed like hanko use.

-5 ( +6 / -11 )

If you are so afraid to even show your photo, how are you going to work in that company then? Not indicating a gender does not mean after you are hired and you won't face the same situation. If you are trans, just tell them you are. It is up to the company they want to hire you or not. If they don't, then the company is not for you. There is no meaning to "force" a company to hire you by not giving out certain information (when it is required by the hiring company). Just find a company that can accept your gender. You can't blame it on others when they think differently from you.

-5 ( +8 / -13 )

It's only certain straight men who complaining about so-called "special treatment" - the majority of folks are fine with transgender people.

Sorry but hey, you need to get past your prejudices and join us here in civilized society.

If you are a straight man spouting negativity while complaining online about LGBTQIA it may not be a good look - deal with it !

Not the kind of person we want to have around - SORRY !

And a footnote - no one has to care about your opinion, buttercup.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

start to reconsider

-6 ( +4 / -10 )

If Japanese companies take these practices, it may have an effect on population growth?

-6 ( +4 / -10 )

In Japan it is against recruitment law to state age or show a photo. The agencies bend to clients. I know it for fact.

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

@Bjorn

, a person who is nicely presenting themselves can tell you alot about them 

Seen many well dressed people that can barely tie their own shoes. As a banker, I've seen so many millionaire's that are badly dressed. Many serial killer looked like normal everyday people. So what exactly does an appearance on a photo show you about capabilities? It just shows you can take a photo. Nothing more.

-8 ( +5 / -13 )

Samit

This doesn't work since too many Japanese parents name their daughters with a name ending Ko(子), making it easy to guess an applicant's gender.

For more than 20 years now Japanese have stopped using names with Ko(子).

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

I don't see how removing info such as sex or photos will ultimately help, you may get an interview but if they don't like you in photos they probably will not like you in person also.

The attitude of the interviewers is what must change.

-9 ( +4 / -13 )

This doesn't work since too many Japanese parents name their daughters with a name ending Ko(子), making it easy to guess an applicant's gender.

If the companies really want gender neutrality, then they need to tell applicants to put a randomized number instead of a name.

-9 ( +4 / -13 )

Companies who claim they need to know the gender in order to encourage gender equality are being disingenuous. Continuing to ask for photos and gender will not benefit women at all.

I mean, has it so far? No.

-11 ( +4 / -15 )

A photo is not necessary unless it is for key jobs that require you to know a person's looks such as a particular part in a movie. As a foreigner, the photo requirement has affected me many times when it comes to finding jobs in Japan.

-11 ( +4 / -15 )

Add the birthdates, age, "recent photos" of "professional quality" as in other advanced nations if they really want to be non-discriminatory.

-12 ( +2 / -14 )

R. T.Today 06:56 am JST

Indicating the person's gender, name, religion, race, and skin color should not be a requirement for job application, but that's not for the sake of transgender people. It's simply because this information does not tell anything about the person's skill.

It's also because companies will discriminate against transgender people if they know they are transgender.

Unless, that is, you think it is perfectly okay to discriminate against someone soely for being transgender? But that seems contradictory to your statement that gender has nothing to do with a person's skills, so you must not mean that.

-21 ( +5 / -26 )

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