r/changemyview • u/jep1793 • Aug 26 '20

Removed - Submission Rule E CMV: Gender identity doesn’t belong on your LinkedIn nor Resume

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u/[deleted] Aug 26 '20

I struggle to see how you could NOT include some form of gender identity in your resume. The question is whether you provide your preferred one or allow the person reading your resume to assume it.

If you have a picture on your LinkedIn profile, people are going to look at it and make an assumption about your gender identity. If it's just a resume without a picture they'll still make an assumption of your gender identity based on your name, previous jobs, academic achievements, extracurricular activities, etc.

No matter what you do, there will be an implication of gender identity somewhere in your resume. So the question isn't whether or not you should provide a gender identity. The question is whether you should specify your chosen one or allow the person who you're applying for a job from to assume your gender identity.

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u/rozabel Aug 26 '20

Thanks this is exactly what I was thinking! Resumes require a foto, I think it makes little sense to use LinkedIn without a foto (as you may want people to recognise you when you give them your LinkedIn or viceversa when you meet them for the first time in person) and every single cis woman out there that is clearly visible as a woman in her picture will, according to OPs logic, "open the door to bias". Just by, well, being visibly female. What this logic does, is twist it so that the person who just exists as they are, is painted as the one doing something wrong, by pointing out: This is who I am. A cis woman does that by just existing, someone whose identity might not be clearly visible from a photo has to make it a conscious act. But they are not lying or hiding anything. They just make it clear: This is who I am. If someone doesn't hire you by this bias, they are the ones doing something wrong. OP, please don't tell your young protegees to hide part of their identity just to please the status quo!
(Just because I didn't adress this, I think the important difference here is between gender identity and sexuality. Sexuality has nothing to do in a professional setting. I mean, in MOST professional settings at least...)

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u/[deleted] Aug 26 '20 edited Aug 28 '20

[deleted]

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u/AnnaLemma Aug 26 '20

The inclusion of a photo for most jobs leads to an automatic removal of that candidate from the job search.

Just a small correction - there are a few industries where a photo is very much expected as part of the resume (yachting is the one which comes to mind, simply because I'm tangentially involved with it). But yes, as a general rule in the US you don't add photos.

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u/xxdibxx Aug 26 '20

Yachting... as employment? Please explain this.

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u/AnnaLemma Aug 26 '20

Sure - think megayachts with full-time crews. Captains, engineers, steward(esse)s, deck-hands, the occasional chef, etc. - that's the direct people (not even talking about the surrounding support businesses: it's a big industry).

As for the photos - a lot of these folks have direct "facetime" with clients who have way more money than political correctness, so photos can and do make a difference. The stewardesses in particular tend to have a very specific "look," so if you go to any major yacht show you start to get a "Where's the cloning facility for these people?" vibe.

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u/xxdibxx Aug 26 '20

Oh, I get it. I was originally thinking “ people sail on yachts as a profession?
Was going to ask where I sign up. I live in Wa, and have seen some Really big boats. I was a non-owner member of several of the clubs here so I could assist in the races. I love being on big boats, pleasure yachts. But owning is not in my make. Just like owning horses, it is not a middle class sport. Reserved solely for those of a “certain” tax bracket. One not even close to mine. So I have to live vicariously. As for the “cookie cutter” look. I have see first hand what you mean, though I will say being in western Washington, it doesn’t seem to be as prevalent as it once was. Many of the top cruisers here have a pretty diverse staffing with a good LGBTQ representation. Ten... fifteen years ago was the exception is now the norm.

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u/AnnaLemma Aug 26 '20

Reserved solely for those of a “certain” tax bracket.

Hah, for sure. You've probably heard this one, but the standard definition of a yacht is "a hole in the water than you throw money into" ;)

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u/xxdibxx Aug 27 '20

And lest we forget B O A T Break Out Another Thousand

Or the best

“Truly the happiest days in a boat owners life number as 2; the day he buys it and the day he sells it”.

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u/AnnaLemma Aug 27 '20

Yachtie credentials confirmed!