It’s been wonderful over the last few years to see the number of people demonstrating their understanding of gender diversity by adding their preferred pronouns to email signatures, business cards and professional profiles.

6 million people on LinkedIn have added their pronouns to their profiles in the last year alone and we know that approximately 0.4% of the UK population identifies as neither male or female.

Our society is better than binaries. Richer than that. Stepping back from this categorisation, and demonstrating support, not only allows space for those who are certain about their preferred non-binary or alternative identity, but gives them freedom to ‘check out’ of a decision, to change their minds, or to simply say that they don’t want to declare it. It allows the freedom to state that their gender has no (and should not have) any bearing on their professional work.

There is something in the air – a movement towards challenging requests for unnecessary categorisations.

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Having been through the mainstream education system as a special needs student, I have definitely had my ups and downs.  Primary and secondary school were fine (I did the same lessons as everyone else). However, attitudes changed when I left secondary school to become a college student.

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Even before the pandemic, the process of finding a new job wasn’t easy. Many applications can be complex, and the interview process can be lengthy, not to mention the increase in both internal and external competition as a result of more people changing jobs more frequently than ever before. If you’re a woman, the barriers … Continued

  I always thought I was quite well-informed and aware of workplace discrimination, especially being a female surgeon in a male dominated field. However, I recently learnt that I clearly had no idea how bad things really were! I was invited onto the review panel, reporting on the Royal College of Surgeons of England’s diversity … Continued