New research suggests that people who put gender pronouns on their resumes are less likely to be contacted by employers for a job.
Business.com sent out identical resumes, some without gender pronouns and some with they/them pronouns. They found that those with they/them pronouns were less likely to be called in for interviews.
Is this discrimination? Possibly. But it could also be because laws about freedom of speech hang in the balance in the U.S. If an employer or employee use the wrong names or gender pronouns for an employee, that opens them up to litigation. Professors, teachers and counselors lose their jobs regularly these days over what was once freedom of speech. Why would a business open themselves up to this risk?
What do you think? Is the hesitance to call back a resume with they/them pronouns discrimination or risk mitigation?
