Is This Job Advert Not Illegal under the SDA (Sex Discrimination Act)?

The job details are as such:
JOB TITLE: FEMALE SALES ASSISTANT
EMPLOYER: Boundary Mill Stores
DESCRIPTION: Duties to include customer service, stock control, merchandising, basic administration and liaising with suppliers. Working within a large retail outlet, benefits include staff discount, uniform and comprehensive training to NVQ.
To find out more about this vacancy, follow this link:
http://www.wlv.prospects.ac.uk/casa/i?v=...

now i have no such interest in applying, as i have a comfortable office job, but i found this on the Universities job site.

I have studied several HR modules and am i correct that this advert is indeed illegal?

In further response, the job advert was posted on the Universities Job Board!!! There is not exemption from the SDA. Boundary Mill as far as i know, they dont have a lingerie section per say. Plus i have worked un Female changing rooms at M&S!!! (not lingerie though even though some customers thought i did!!!!!)

So in my opinion - that is still not an excuse to advertise for a female only position!!!!

You are indeed correct. There are only very few jobs in which the employer is allowed to specify that they wish to hire a person of a particular gender.

Acting jobs are one, where obviously believeability of the character depends on the gender of the actor playing the role.

Jobs such as being a caregiver, or working with troubled/disadvantaged people, are others, if it is believed that it is in the best interests or the person being cared for/helped to have someone of a particular gender in the role. Interestingly, I have only ever seen one advert for a job such as this, which was advertising specifically for a female as the job was working with female rape victims, and the advert included a clause which said something like "this job is exempt from the Sexual Discrimination Act" or something like that.

I'm curious to know why they have posted this ad, when it's only going to cause them problems, when they could have *not* used the word "female" but still hired a female anyway if they'd wanted to.

It might depend on what they sell - if it's lingerie for instance, they may be allowed to specify female staff.

Yes.

As far as I know u are anyway!!

Yes, illegal. Unless the sales assistant will be providing intimate services to customers. Doesn't sound like it from the job description.

There was a sexual discrimination case not so long ago in which a man sued the restaurant Hooters for refusing to hire him as a waiter.

I beleive the final verdict was that it is not discrimination if there is some reasonable basis to think that a certain gender coudl not do the job as well. Translation from legalese, he lost.

It looks illegal to me and I have worked in Human Resources as well. Boundary Mills sell sheets and tea towels etc.

Employers probably r allowed to advertise 4 a particular sex 4 certain jobs.It would depend on the job.For instance a female would be required for a ladies changing room assistant as a man would not be allowed in the ladies changing rooms so it probably depends on the job & wether a man or woman could reasonably b expected 2 do the job or if like in the instance iv sugested it involves an area of work where only one sex is expected 2 go.

Why are you so worried about it ?

Thank you. I have now applied for this job and look forward to the 拢5000 from the Employment Tribunal.

Why don't we all do the same?