Along with Banana Republic, J. Crew has spent nearly three decades outfitting America’s homosexuals in their dandy wardrobe, making pink slacks and crocodile belts acceptable for the masses. But on Sunday the queers will be sending a different message to J. Crew corporate — less of a “thank you for selling the gay uniform” and more of a “why aren’t you hiring transgender job applicants”?
A review of J. Crew’s hiring practices at 24 of the company’s New York City retail stores reveals: 1) J. Crew has 24 freakin’ stores in NYC?! (Due to an error with the original news story, it was reported that J. Crew’s 24 NYC stores were investigated, but it is actually 24 separate retailers); and 2) non-trans applicants were consistently hired over their trans counterparts. It’s led activists to file a complaint against J. Crew with the attorney general, which we wish got titled “J. Screw,” and plan a lovely protest in front of the Fifth Avenue store at 16th Street tomorrow.
Transgender and gender non-conforming activists will call on J. Crew to address discrimination by adopting a non-discrimination policy and including it in all job listings and applications; training employees about non-discrimination policies and practices; and ensuring that transgender and gender non-conforming people are free from harassment on the job.
The report to be released, titled “Transgender Need Not Apply: a Report on Gender Identity Job Discrimination,” also found a 42 percent net rate of discrimination for transgender job applicants, a high figure in comparison to rates documented for other populations such as African-Americans and the elderly. In addition, 49 percent of transgender workers surveyed reported that they have never been offered a job in the time that they have lived openly as transgender.
And if the demonstrators could also protest against this dress, which does not look good on anyone over a Size Zero, that’d be great, thanks.
[photo via]
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chris
there are 24 J crew retailers in New York City?
I know its big but I mean….seriously?
Dave
Has anyone even thought that perhaps the trans people are NOT qualified and someone else was actually better suited for the position?
Qjersey
DAVE, the report that will be released duplicates what has been done many times over to demonstrate discrimination in hiring. Two individuals are sent in with almost identical resumes, except one belongs to someone from a disenfranchised group. This type of study has been done with women, blacks, and gays before. And each and every one (at the time they were done) demonstrated discrimination in hiring. A more recent study found that those with “Afrocentric” first names were less likely to be hired compared to other black folks with more typical Euro-Christian names.
Lady Ga-Gasp
So in other words there are no “actual” complaints, only manufactured one? I guess they can’t afford to buy a Prius and run it into a tree?
Dave
Playing devil’s advocate here…The reality of business is that discrimination will always be a part of it. Qualifications go beyond what is on paper and the way someone will interact with your consumer is a big part of it…it’s called personality. Companies have certain standards that their brand image must convey and they put A LOT of money into that. Although it might expand their demographics if perhaps they were more open, it certainly doesn’t affect their core business. It’s like saying a male gay porn site is discriminatory since it does not show women having sex. Just look at QueerClick posts on reactions to vagina anywhere near a male gay porn site. In the end the typical Press Release will be issued and JCrew will continue to do what is best for their business…don’t forget…blacks love it now since Michelle Obama was made a very public client. I doubt Alexis Arquette’s condemnation of the company will have an effect as big as Michelle’s. Business as usual.
Jack
There are 10 stores in NYC. The author of this article should get the facts straight before publishing. I wonder what else from the article is false?
scott ny'er
@Qjersey: And it’s been done with pretty people versus average or ugly people. It’s the way of the world. Unfair but that’s how it works.
Qjersey
…@scott ny’er: and because it’s the way of the world we should just let it be, kinda like marriage for straights only, slavery, and on, and on, and on.
Dave
‘Tis true Scott. I always feel like my food is dirty when an ugly person brings it to me.
hardmannyc
Not to absolve the company, but let’s face it: How many other retailers would act the same? Yes, I know, it doesn’t make it — compare Jews, blacks, Irish, etc. etc.
But still, that’s the way of the world. I guess that doesn’t mean we can’t work to change it — especially (and this is the point) NYC has a non-discrimination law against transpeople, which is exactly why such laws are needed.
bobo
ARRRRRRRGGGGGH!!! i just brought a jacket from there! and it wasn’t cheap! and i look hot in it too. and it is too late to return it. GAH!!! i will gladly donate it for the next j-crew protest burning to support all my trans-friends. however, my loss of a really great (hot-looking) jacket, is little compared to the transphobia and discrimination that my trans-friends face.
Clueless
How doe an employer know an applicant or employee is transgendered?