What the law says

It is unlawful under the Sex Discrimination Ordinance (SDO) for any employer to single out men or women for a job. Gender discrimination is considered to have taken place if one person is treated less favourably than another, in comparable circumstances, because of their sex.

However, in exceptional circumstances, being a man or woman is recognised as a genuine occupational qualification (GOQ).

All GOQs are listed in the SDO, and include reasons of physiology or authenticity (for example in a film role), maintaining privacy or decency (such as a changing room attendant), and working in a domestic setting or as a companion to an elderly person.