I work in forensic psychiatric nursing and am being prevented from doing certain tasks at work because I am female. These include restricting my access to certain patients because of their offending history. Whereas I appreciate that the trust must consider the safety of its employees, it is my choice that I be treated in an identical manner as male members of staff as I am paid the same amount. Please note I am not talking about gender appropriateness regarding dignity, (bathing etc), I am refering to my employees questioning my ability to carry out my job in a safe way because I am female. What are my rights in this situation?

I Should probably add that Im a naturalized British citizen, live in deep stealth and my papers have been changed to reflect my identity as female.  I am not asking to search anybody at work nor am I saying any rules should be changed. I am referring only to my right to be treated in the gender role I choose. An extreme example of the point that I could choose to officially live my life as a man and employers would have to treat me as such. I shouldnt have to go that far to be treated the same as men, should I?

I'm not saying it's right to treat you differently, but given your work, it is possible that it's not just for your safety that you are restricted from certain patients. It doesn't do the patient any good to have their particular problem triggered by the presence of a woman either, and it could put other patients at risk.

A friend works in a group home for disturbed youth and some of the boys who have issues about women will get so disturbed by the presence of a woman that they will attack other boys sexually or aggressively.

Dennis

QuoteA friend works in a group home for disturbed youth and some of the boys who have issues about women will get so disturbed by the presence of a woman that they will attack other boys sexually or aggressively.

Never heard of anything like that. 

I wouldn't consider it gender discrimination, Fer, but I can certainly see your point.  I also work in the health care industry, and sometimes I have to work in a different branch of the hospital which specializes in the care of mentally ill patients.  During the time I have to work in such location, I am not allowed to leave my station to personally dispense medication for these patients.  Only male pharmacists, techs and physicians are.  It is hospital policy and I have never taken this approach as being discrimination.

Also, when we (women) need to use the ladies' room, a male security guard accompanies us and waits for us at the door.  This has to be done as there have been some unpleasant incidents in the past concerning mentally ill patients who had harrassed a few of the female nurses.

Personally I think this is being done for your protection more than anything really.  I hope you keep us informed on how everything is developing.

tink

I agree with Dennis and Tink. I don't see it as discrimination either. It's not that by preventing you from certain tasks, they are saying you can't handle the job, rather an issue of safety and propriety.
Women are just more likely to be targeted for abuse then men are. You don't put a lamb in the same room with a lion (especially one who's got a history of bad conduct with lambs).

Thank you kindly for all the answers guys.  I think you are right & maybe I shall come down a bit.  Thanks again Dennis, Tink, and Nero.  Also redfish and Shiva for bothering to read my question.

Hi

I just retired two years ago working as a Social Worker in an Out Patient drop In Center for mental health consumers. I worked there as the real me Cindy for nearly on to 8 years and as usual as I have done in other places working with troubled people,  I had become very attached to my clients, each had their own unique characteristic. And this was how I also learned to read these people pretty quickly because if one didn't  there could be the possibility of some client expressing aggressive behavior. For safeties sake there was four of us, three women and one male present at all times in this building and if such an outburst were to happen it could be brought under control rather quickly. Fortunately I never had to to get someone put in restraint.

I also worked in Drop in centers for street people, met all kind of different people with different issues and with various mental health problems of one kind or another.

I have also done counseling for recovering addicts  and Alcoholics.

Surprisingly I have never had any of these clients give me a hard time. I  loved my job because I have discovered that I really care for those in need and without really thinking about it I have done this type of work rescuing people for a good many years of my life.

Cindy