Does Gender Matter In Interviews? Women Tell Us Their Stories. [#WomenOnTheMove]

In our weekly Twitter Chat, #WomenOnTheMove, we discussed with our readers whether gender in interviews ever comes up, and if yes, what hassles have they faced. 

While navigating through the workforce, women often come across difficult situations. Whether it is facing sexual harassment at the work place; being judged for their work commitments based on their domestic responsibilities; employment discrimination or personal questions during job interviews, women have repeatedly, irrespective of their age group, been facing difficult situations, time and again.

So, in a job interview, is the gender of the candidate more important than the qualifications, skills and the previous work experience? As long as the candidate is committed to his/her work, how relevant are gender biased questions? Do men face a similar predicament as women?

We tried to find out the answers of these questions and many more in our weekly Twitter Chat. This is what our readers had to say.

Questions prying into the personal lives of women especially their marital status!

Some questions are direct:

@womensweb #Womenonthemove yes I have and much more details.

— Akshata (@Awestruck_Aks) June 2, 2016

@womensweb A1. I was asked quite early in my career when I intended to get married. Fortunately, I didn’t get selected. #WomenOnTheMove

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— Pallavi Kamat (@Pallavisms) June 2, 2016

A1 Yes including “plans” was explicitly asked & not by HR @womensweb #WomenOnTheMove

— Monica Jasuja (@jasuja) June 2, 2016

@womensweb Gender does matter significantly in interviews, Qs like do you plan to settle down ? or any kids in the immediate future ?

— Aanchal Verma (@aanch29) June 2, 2016

Yes, followed by “I hope you aren’t planning a baby in near future” #womenonthemove#womeninTech#womenatworkhttps://t.co/mhYixRtASR

— monika (@monikamanchanda) June 2, 2016

And then there were some that were more subtle and implied:

@womensweb Not directly but subtly. Qs of this nature always start with “tell us more about your family.” 🙂 🙁

— Carona Mohapatra (@carona_m) June 2, 2016

Actually all that came in the intro “tell me about yourself” https://t.co/aVfb9Ovpio

— Raksha’s Kitchen (@rujal29) June 2, 2016

We were curious whether men also face personal questions!

My husband now shares that he is a husband & a father w/o being asked. Says most people are shocked. https://t.co/sI9WKMsBLM

— monika (@monikamanchanda) June 2, 2016

@Suman_Kher @womensweb
It does, just in different forms, “What does your wife do?”. In India these questions still keep getting asked.

— ProventusHR (@it_is_RK) June 2, 2016

🙂 Does happen for sure. https://t.co/UX5xcGEaee

— Kunjal Kamdar (@kunjal23) June 2, 2016

It normally happens during Interviews. During Relocation of Jobs. #womenonthemove https://t.co/sM8SqYbwY6

— Kunjal Kamdar (@kunjal23) June 2, 2016

@Suman_Kher It does, just a toned down version; And definitely not as much as women are probably asked. @womensweb #Womenonthemove

— Sid (@iwrotethose) June 2, 2016

Women grilled on ‘baby plans’ too

Are men asked this question as well? If women are mothers, men are fathers too, isn’t it? 

@womensweb are men asked if they will have a baby and how that will affect their work. Pretty sure, never. #womenonthemove

— Kanchana Banerjee (@justkanchana) June 2, 2016

@bhini my question is why are the men not taking care of the baby. Surely it is their baby too @womensweb

— monika (@monikamanchanda) June 2, 2016

Yes. I was once asked about my family plans too, as in when I was planning to have babies. https://t.co/3TVLsVQz8l

— Unmana (@Unmana) June 2, 2016

@Suman_Kher @womensweb agree but it shouldnt b assumed that a woman cant perform 2 her best just becoz she will have a baby

— Kanchana Banerjee (@justkanchana) June 2, 2016

@Suman_Kher @womensweb yes it does but a woman who is serious abt her wrk & career will manage it. #womenonthemove

— Kanchana Banerjee (@justkanchana) June 2, 2016

@justkanchana That is where its unfair to have such high expectations,hence,”Can a Woman have it all” is much debated @Suman_Kher @womensweb

— Monica Jasuja (@jasuja) June 2, 2016

@akshata_b I agree being a wife or mother doesn’t make you less efficient. Judging on that basis is not right @womensweb
#Womenonthemove

— Suman Kher (@Suman_Kher) June 2, 2016

@womensweb @Suman_Kher @justkanchana about time things changed and men split their focus too. Isn’t it? #justathought #womenonthemove

— Akshata (@akshata_b) June 2, 2016

@akshata_b @womensweb @Suman_Kher @justkanchana Butting in here; maybe not just split focus, but turn the ‘role’ tables too. 🙂

— Sid (@iwrotethose) June 2, 2016

Use it as a trump card. Tell them, wouldn’t you want to hire a woman who is excellent at handling work &home? Multitasking.hello! @womensweb

— Anamika Nandedkar (@meg123nandu) June 2, 2016

@Awestruck_Aks my wife’s now the country head of her org; yet she faces issues where she is treated different because of gender @womensweb

— Sid (@iwrotethose) June 2, 2016

By putting women on a pedestal for multi-tasking, are we covertly asserting gender roles?

@meg123nandu @womensweb sorry its only my opinion but dis glorifying of multitasking 4 women puts undue pressure & is unfair #womenonthemove

— Falguni Vasavada-Oza (@falgunivasavada) June 2, 2016

Do women ask such questions too?

Given that all of us buy into patriarchal norms to a varying extent, and that women often need to buy into the ‘old boys’ club’ by espousing such attitudes, it wasn’t surprising that people had experienced such questions from both men and women. Some also reported women bosses giving them a harder time at work.

I have always struggled to understand this. Why as women we aren’t more empowering to other women? https://t.co/okWkz1TZ56

— monika (@monikamanchanda) June 2, 2016

A3 Women have exp with the same quandary & hence may like to judge thought process/capability to handle @womensweb #WomenOnTheMove

— Monica Jasuja (@jasuja) June 2, 2016

@monikamanchanda cus we instead of helping each other grow are mostly jealous or competitive with other. @womensweb

— Sejal ( سیجل ) (@KeyaSMamma) June 2, 2016

@akshata_b @womensweb Sisterhood is celebrated but in reality may not exist. Envy/Jealousy more common amongst us than boys #WomenOnTheMove

— Monica Jasuja (@jasuja) June 2, 2016

I was asked “So you are Goa girl, had fun?”
I wondered what to answer! https://t.co/xhVRytNEuJ

— Raksha’s Kitchen (@rujal29) June 2, 2016

A3. Somehow I have had male interviewers only n all were “concerned” abt my marital status. #womenonthemove https://t.co/cQzsf6yLcZ

— Shalini Baisiwala (@Shalz75) June 2, 2016

Q3 Had a female boss just once. I think male bosses are much more sensitive to women’s, esp mothers’ needs. @womensweb

— Anamika Nandedkar (@meg123nandu) June 2, 2016

@jasuja @akshata_b @womensweb SPOT ON! All my male bosses have been absolutely grt. Female boss, the only one I’ve had, said cramps is passe

— Anamika Nandedkar (@meg123nandu) June 2, 2016

@womensweb @meg123nandu I agree. Somehow never met a women boss better than a man boss. #womenonthemove

— Akshata (@akshata_b) June 2, 2016

Clearly, interview questions need a complete make-over!

A5. I think more stress on work-life balance will eliminate this bias itself. #Womenonthemove https://t.co/dWqzB8sXUV

— Suman Kher (@Suman_Kher) June 2, 2016

@womensweb A5 it is a must.The line needs to be drawn.Else interviewers take too much Liberty, put a full stop.#Womenonthemove

— Akshata (@Awestruck_Aks) June 2, 2016

A5 yes we do but strict enforcement is impossible but regulation forces compliance @womensweb #womenonthemove

— Monica Jasuja (@jasuja) June 2, 2016

@womensweb A5. Yes! High time! Corporates shd view them as working professionals & avoid gender related questions! #womenonmove

— Falguni Vasavada-Oza (@falgunivasavada) June 2, 2016

@womensweb regulation will only take us so far. It’s more important to change the way society in general views gendered roles at work/home.

— Pallavi (@PennyKinned) June 2, 2016

@womensweb And that’s from both genders. So yes, women do need to stop dragging other women down. & men need to lock up their complex issues

— Sid (@iwrotethose) June 2, 2016

@iwrotethose @womensweb totally agree, to appreciatively and collaboratively coexist will have to be a prime trait for prosperity…

— Ruchitaa Mehrra (@RuchitaaMehrra) June 2, 2016

+3 @womensweb @falgunivasavada @meg123nandu No one has it all, even men don’t, so let’s change the conversation to balance #womenonthemove

— anupama (@anupamaskapoor) June 2, 2016

@falgunivasavada Alternately add Qs for men too. Are u on the family way?Paternity leave? Will u quit? 😉 #WomenOnTheMove @womensweb

— anupama (@anupamaskapoor) June 2, 2016

@womensweb A5. Don’t think rules will help. Change has to begin from within & from each of us. Let’s start today 😊 #WomenOnTheMove

— Pallavi Kamat (@Pallavisms) June 2, 2016

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