Gender column deleted from the resume sample format

Recently NHK News on-line is reporting the following:

性別欄記載 履歴書様式例削除

10月02日　19時03分

 就職活動などで使う「履歴書」について、日本規格協会は、これまで、性別欄が記載されたものをＪＩＳ規格の様式例として提示してきましたが、心と体の性が一致しないトランスジェンダーの人たちの要望を受けて様式例自体を削除しました。

これによって、今後、性別欄のない履歴書を販売しようというメーカーも出てきています。

履歴書の様式は法律で定められてはいませんが、市販の履歴書の多くはＪＩＳ＝日本産業規格の様式例に基づいて作られています。

ＪＩＳ規格の開発などにあたる日本規格協会は、昭和３１年から、性別欄が記載された履歴書をＪＩＳ規格の様式例として示してきたということです。

しかし、トランスジェンダーの人たちが履歴書記載の性別と外見が異なることを理由に内定を取り消されたりするケースがあるとして、ことし、性別欄をなくすよう求める署名活動が行われました。

こうしたことなどを受けて日本規格協会はことし７月、ＪＩＳ規格の様式例自体を削除しました。

大手文房具メーカーのコクヨは、性別欄のある従来のものに加えて、今後、性別欄のない履歴書も販売するということです。

厚生労働省は、ＪＩＳ規格の様式例に基づいた履歴書を使うよう推奨していましたが、様式例がなくなったことで、求職者がどの履歴書を使えばよいか迷ったり、企業が履歴書やエントリーシートにどんな項目を記載すればよいか判断に支障を来したりするおそれもあるとして、履歴書の新たな様式例を国が作成するかどうかを含め、対応を検討しています。

Translation

Regarding "curriculum vitae " formats used in job hunting etc., the Japanese Standards Association (JIS) had so far presented the ones with gender columns as examples of JIS standards; but as transgender genders’ mind and body did not match, and at their requests, in the sample format, the gender column was deleted.

As a result, in future some manufacturers would try to sell curriculum vitae blank forms without the gender column.

 The format of resumes was not stipulated by law, but most of the resume blank sheets on the market were prepared using the JIS format as the sample.

The Japanese Standards Association, which developed the JIS standards, had been showing resumes sheets that had the gender columns as the samples of JIS standards since 1956.

However, there were cases where transgender people had their job offer cancelled because their appearance differed from the gender as stated in the resume they submitted when applying for jobs, and a signature campaign was carried out to ask for the deletion of the gender column.

In response to these factors, in July the Japanese Standards Association deleted the self status column from the JIS standard format sample.

KOKUYO, a major stationery maker, in addition to the conventional ones with a gender column, would sell resume sheets without a gender column in future.

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare had previously recommended that resumes based on JIS standard format samples be used, but due to the lack of another format example, job seekers might wonder which resume to use; and it might also hinder the decision of enterprises on what items should be included in the resumes and job application sheets. As such measures were being considered, including whether or not the government should create a new format example of the resume.

          In my mind Japan is a relatively conservation country. It seems that when coming to the reporting of one’s sexual status in job hunting applications, Japan is at the forefront among Asian countries in having an open mind.