Sir, – I am a qualified social care worker, but currently unemployed. I have recently furthered my education through HSE mandatory courses that have cost me €420. In my last employment, I availed of a sign language course.
Along with my studies, I have experience in working in the area of intellectual disabilities and special needs – from mild to moderate to severe and with children, teenagers and adults.
I am registered with two recruitment agencies specialising in social care. On April 5th, I was contacted by one of these recruitment agencies with the offer of up to 16 hours of work in Co Waterford, working with a service user with autism. The agent asked when was I available to start. I told him, as I was not working, I could start whenever it suited the service user. He said he would contact me again with more detail.
Within 30 minutes, I received a text message from the agency to say that the job was no longer mine as they wanted a female in the position. It was also suggested in this text message, that a position better suited to me would be found in the future.
I have worked with both male and female service users of all ages. I have sat in classrooms and attended courses with both men and women. As have doctors, teachers, sport coaches, nurses, and so on.
So why, in Ireland in 2012, does the fact that I am male prevent me from obtaining a position to which I am very qualified?
Such prejudice in an area where there should be none is a disservice to the caring professions and all of those involved. Due to gender discrimination, is it time that I, a devoted social care worker, leave the field and embark on a more so-called “gender appropriate” career? – Yours, etc,