united-kingdom discrimination
Gender equality and babysitting
<p>I recently saw an advertisement for a babysitting job which specified that applicants must be female. </p>

<p>Is this illegal under UK law?</p>

<h2>Yes</h2>

<p>Probably ...</p>

<p>Sex is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010 and is therefore not something upon which an employer can discriminate. <a href="https://www.gov.uk/discrimination-your-rights/types-of-discrimination" rel="nofollow">https://www.gov.uk/discrimination-your-rights/types-of-discrimination</a></p>

<p>However, there are a number of exemptions and while I am not familiar with the specific jurisdiction I would be very surprised if one did not include a choice of the gender of a carer in a one-on-one babysitting job.</p>

<p>No, not necessarily. They may have at least one female child who needs very intimate care. Therefore insisting that all applicants be female is an express exemption to the Equality Act 2010.</p>
