The requirement by many of Japan’s firms that job applicants indicate their gender and even provide a photo on resumes has left the country out of step with the international norm, but that may be about to change.
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.
Identifying gender on resumes is particularly problematic for transgender people — often leading to obstacles in getting hired, experts say.
Even so, some argue that information on gender is sometimes essential, at least as a way of demonstrating equal opportunity.
I – Word Understanding
Out of step – not in accordance with / different
Scrap – to get rid of / to remove
Obstacle – something that make it difficult to do something
II – Have Your Say
1, On resumes, is it important or not important to indicate the following:
a, Gender
b, Photo
c, Age
d, First name
2, On hiring: what changes do you hope could be done to improve the hiring process?
What kind of discrimination on hiring has been an issue in your country (gender, age, race, etc)?
3, On gender/transgender issues: How has the issue of transgender / LGBTQ progressed in your society? What changes took place so far, and what changes do you hope can be done?
781 Japanese firms start to reconsider asking for resumes to specify gender
