sent!

[redbird]

I have sent a copy of my resume, with a cover letter that emphasizes my familiarity with ACM (the resume makes that pretty clear, of course), to Alda.

Now I wait. And maybe have more tea, though I've had three mugs already this morning. But the sore throat has stopped being sore, so that's all right, even if I'm considering spending the day in my bathrobe.

Should I respond to someone who posted to the COPYEDITING-L list looking for a "woman feminist" editor for a vague project, or should I stick to my feminist principles and not answer an ad that discriminates on the grounds of gender?

Comments

[bibliotrope.livejournal.com]

You could maybe say that you might have been interested except that it's against your principles to answer an ad that discriminates.

Good luck on the ACM application!

[papersky.livejournal.com]

There's a line where principles meet desperation and desperation wins -- but I wouldn't say you were there. Ignore it loftily, you wouldn't want to work for people like that anyway.

My principles on that specific issue are different. I'd prefer the ad let me know all the grounds on which they are discriminating, rather than pretending they don't discriminate and making me waste time applying and even interviewing when they're going to hire the boss's nephew anyway. (I have seen ads so closely written that they couldn't have more clearly been for the boss's nephew if they'd had included his name and shoe size -- this is in Britain where for some jobs it's illegal not to advertise them.)

[redbird]

It's not just that I object to specifying gender except if it's actually and directly relevant to the job. It's that this ad specified that they wanted a feminist with interest in other anti-discrimination movements, but also announced that they plan to discriminate. I suspect I'd spend a lot of energy arguing with them over definitions of feminism.

Hm. Maybe I should answer, and add that I'm interested to know what about the job makes the employee's gender important.

[adrian-turtle.livejournal.com]

>Hm. Maybe I should answer, and add that I'm interested to know what about the job makes the employee's gender important.

That's exactly how I would respond. It looks like the wolf is retreating a bit from your door (congratulations on the new copyediting job!) so it won't be hideously painful for you to stick to your principles.

[selki.livejournal.com]

Practice interviews are useful.

[catamorphism.livejournal.com]

I would not apply for the job, but would reply to the ad and point out that assuming that chromosomes dictate ideology isn't exactly feminist. Of course, as an employed person, that's easy for me to say, so YMMV.

[mintogrubb.livejournal.com]

Personally, I much admire you for your principled stand. I hope you get a job in a company that you actually like, and appreciates you for who you are.