Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (repealed)

7 Exception where sex is a genuine occupational qualification. E+W+S

(1) In relation to sex discrimination—

(a) section 6(1)(a) or (c) does not apply to any employment where being a man is a genuine occupational qualification for the job, and

(b) section 6(2)(a) does not apply to opportunities for promotion or transfer to, or training for, such employment.

(2) Being a man is a genuine occupational qualification for a job only where—

(a) the essential nature of the job calls for a man for reasons of physiology (excluding physical strength or stamina) or, in dramatic performances or other entertainment, for reasons of authenticity, so that the essential nature of the job would be materially different if carried out by a woman; or

(b) the job needs to be held by a man to preserve decency or privacy because—

(i) it is likely to involve physical contact with men in circumstances where they might reasonably object to its being carried out by a woman, or

(ii) the holder of the job is likely to do his work in circumstances where men might reasonably object to the presence of a woman because they are in a state of undress or are using sanitary facilities; or

[F1 (ba) the job is likely to involve the holder of the job doing his work, or living, in a private home and needs to be held by a man because objection might reasonably be taken to allowing to a woman–

(i) the degree of physical or social contact with a person living in the home, or

(ii) the knowledge of intimate details of such a person’s life,

which is likely, because of the nature or circumstances of the job or of the home, to be allowed to, or available to, the holder of the job; or]

(c) the nature or location of the establishment makes it impracticable for the holder of the job to live elsewhere than in premises provided by the employer, and—

(i) the only such premises which are available for persons holding that kind of job are lived in, or normally lived in, by men and are not equipped with separate sleeping accommodation for women and sanitary facilities which could be used by women in privacy from men, and

(ii) it is not reasonable to expect the employer either to equip those premises with such accommodation and facilities or to provide other premises for women; or

(d) the nature of the establishment, or of the part of it within which the work is done, requires the job to be held by a man because—

(i) it is, or is part of, a hospital, prison or other establishment for persons requiring special care, supervision or attention, and

(ii) those persons are all men (disregarding any woman whose presence is exceptional), and

(iii) it is reasonable, having regard to the essential character of the establishment or that part, that the job should not be held by a woman; or

(e) the holder of the job provides individuals with personal services promoting their welfare or education, or similar personal services, and those services can most effectively be provided by a man, or

(f) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2

(g) the job needs to be held by a man because it is likely to involve the performance of duties outside the United Kingdom in a country whose laws or customs are such that the duties could not, or could not effectively, be performed by a woman, or

(h) the job is one of two to be held by a married couple.

(3) Subsection (2) applies where some only of the duties of the job fall within paragraphs (a) to (g) as well as where all of them do.

(4) Paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) . . . F3 or (g) of subsection (2) does not apply in relation to the filling of a vacancy at a time when the employer already has male employees—

(a) who are capable of carrying out the duties falling within that paragraph, and

(b) whom it would be reasonable to employ on those duties, and

(c) whose numbers are sufficient to meet the employer’s likely requirements in respect of those duties without undue inconvenience.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 7(2)(ba) inserted by Sex Discrimination Act 1986 (c. 59, SIF 106:1), s. 1(2)

F2 S. 7(2)(f) repealed by Employment Act 1989 (c. 38, SIF 43:1, 106:1), ss. 3(2), 29(4), Sch. 7 Pt. II (subject to a saving in Sch. 9 para. 1)

F3 S. 7(4): ", (f)" repealed by Employment Act 1989 (c. 38, SIF 43:1), s. 29(4), Sch. 7 Pt. II

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 7 modified by S.I. 1989/901, art. 3, Sch.

C2 S. 7 modified (2.3.1998) by S.I. 1998/218, art. 3, Sch. (which S.I. was revoked (1.9.1999) by S.I. 1999/2256, art. 1(2))

C3 S. 7 modified (1.9.1999) by S.I. 1999/2256, art. 3, Sch.

C4 S. 7 modified (E.) (1.9.2003) by The Education (Modification of Enactments Relating to Employment) (England) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1964), art. 3, Sch.