IS IT DISCRIMINATION???

Gannicus

I am on daft at the moment looking to rent a room in the area I currently live as I know the locality and familiar with the area and like it here. The only problem is that when I put in all my criteria I found a few places I really like. However I have looked at the ads and they all say female roommate only.

Are you allowed make statements such as "female only applicants" or "looking for female roommate only" or vice versa in relation to male roommates when it comes to advertising a room.

If a job was advertised as only one specific gender is allowed apply it would be classed as discrimination. If I were gay and refused the room or refused it because I was from a different ethnic background there would be newspaper articles and radio shows etc about it.

If we were to go by the book then definition alone then yes it is discrimination but at the end of the day is it just personal preference?

You constantly hear about people looking for the government to do something about the fact that so many of the rental listings say "rent allowance not accepted" etc and there are loads of different groups canvassing the government to the same effect.

In this day and age should people be allowed to refuse to rent someone a room based on the gender.

Little CuChulainn

Gannicus wrote: »

In this day and age should people be allowed to refuse to rent someone a room based on the gender.

Yes

Dravokivich

Maybe a female room mate only wants to share the room with another female?

Generic Dreadhead

No it's not. I've sub-rented out the house a number of times to both genders.
Men and Women are different. People should have a right to live with whoever they feel most comfortable with.

Daith

Gannicus wrote: »

If I were gay and refused the room or refused it because I was from a different ethnic background there would be newspaper articles and radio shows etc about it.

I think I know what you have to do.

_Brian

Seriously, they're renting a room in their house, they have every right to pick and choose based on whatever grounds they feel suitable.

Gannicus

Little CuChulainn wrote: »

Yes

Why? If you were refused for sexual orientation, ethnicity/nationality its classed as discrimination.


If the ad said "whites only" there would be mayhem (rightly so).

Notorious97

Maybe you have that look about you, up for a bit of devilment and they dont trust you?

Burn the house down?

Gannicus

Daith wrote: »

I think I know what you have to do.

Enlighten me

Notorious97 wrote: »

Maybe you have that look about you, up for a bit of devilment and they dont trust you?

Burn the house down?

What look these are all ads I've read on daft.

Donkey Oaty

Changing the law to make it illegal will not change anything in practice, other than advertisers wasting people's time pretending to consider them for a room they are definitely not going to get.

Gannicus

Donkey Oaty wrote: »

Changing the law to make it illegal will not change anything in practice, other than advertisers wasting people's time pretending to consider them for a room they are definitely not going to get.

Then why is it not socially acceptable to put "straights only" or "whites only" on the very same advert.... leaving all legality aside.

Notorious97

Gannicus wrote: »

Enlighten me




What look these are all ads I've read on daft.

Lol im just taking the piss man, but seriously if they wish to live with girls only thats their choice, i am sure there are plenty of places who do not want girls living with them for whatever reasons.

Good luck with the house hunting

OldNotWIse

Gannicus wrote: »

I am on daft at the moment looking to rent a room in the area I currently live as I know the locality and familiar with the area and like it here. The only problem is that when I put in all my criteria I found a few places I really like. However I have looked at the ads and they all say female roommate only.

Are you allowed make statements such as "female only applicants" or "looking for female roommate only" or vice versa in relation to male roommates when it comes to advertising a room.

If a job was advertised as only one specific gender is allowed apply it would be classed as discrimination. If I were gay and refused the room or refused it because I was from a different ethnic background there would be newspaper articles and radio shows etc about it.

If we were to go by the book then definition alone then yes it is discrimination but at the end of the day is it just personal preference?

You constantly hear about people looking for the government to do something about the fact that so many of the rental listings say "rent allowance not accepted" etc and there are loads of different groups canvassing the government to the same effect.

In this day and age should people be allowed to refuse to rent someone a room based on the gender.

I think advertising for a job and advertising for someone to share your room with are two very different things. Perhaps it's a female who would feel safer sharing a room with a girl?

As far as I can recall, discrimination is not an issue between private individuals.

_Brian

Gannicus wrote: »

Why? If you were refused for sexual orientation, ethnicity/nationality its classed as discrimination.


If the ad said "whites only" there would be mayhem (rightly so).

Maybe but it doesn't have to be written on the ad to turn down people you don't want to share your house with.

Daith

There's no issue and really they're just saving your time from being wasted.

smash

Place your own ad

"Male looking to rent a room in a house or apartment where other occupants are female and hot!"

Let us know how you get on.

o1s1n

Sex change OP, it's the only solution.

Donkey Oaty

Gannicus wrote: »

Then why is it not socially acceptable to put "straights only" or "whites only" on the very same advert.... leaving all legality aside.

I don't know, but presumably because straight people or white people, as groups, are not perceived to have the same history of discrimination against them.

Daith

o1s1n wrote: »

Sex change OP, it's the only solution.

Go gay. Women love the gays.

dark crystal

Gannicus wrote: »

Then why is it not socially acceptable to put "straights only" or "whites only" on the very same advert.... leaving all legality aside.

I've seen ads for Gay only flatmates. Is that discrimination against straight people?

If you're going to be sharing a house with someone else for a prolonged period of time, it's best to advertise for someone you'll personally feel more comfortable sharing with. I don't see the big deal in that, tbh.

Packrat

Gannicus wrote: »

Then why is it not socially acceptable to put "straights only" or "whites only" on the very same advert.... leaving all legality aside.

Because it's IMPOSSIBLE to discriminate against white males OP.

We are the cause of everything bad in the world, and anything bad that happens to us is good enough for us.

Akrasia

o1s1n wrote: »

Sex change OP, it's the only solution.

Or you could do a 'Spaced' meets 'Mrs Doubtfire' caper where you pretend to be a girl to get the room and then have to play the role as a woman in all situations where your cover risks being blown.

Standman

It's only discrimination if it is against a historically persecuted group, I think the logic goes.

FTA69

I've seen houses that have been advertised for male applicants as well so it isn't all a one-way thing. There could be a variety of reasons for wanting a housemate of a certain gender.

1) Religious. Some communities (Muslims etc) would only feel comfortable cohabiting with people of the same sex.
2) House Dynamic - Our house has three lads and two girls. When one of the girls moved out we advertised for another girl so there would be an even gender balance and the last girl wouldn't feel she was surrounded by a load of lads.
3) Shared interests. I've seen flats advertised here for gay/lesbians only etc.

o1s1n

Packrat wrote: »

Because it's IMPOSSIBLE to discriminate against white males OP.

We are the cause of everything bad in the world, and anything bad that happens to us is good enough for us.

It works both ways in this case though. Feel free to stick 'men only' in your next ad on daft. Nobody is going to stop you.

Akrasia

dark crystal wrote: »

I've seen ads for Gay only flatmates. Is that discrimination against straight people?

If you're going to be sharing a house with someone else for a prolonged period of time, it's best to advertise for someone you'll personally feel more comfortable sharing with. I don't see the big deal in that, tbh.

Wasn't there a case recently where a man bashed his gay room mate's head in with a hammer because he was viciously homophobic...

http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/man-21-left-gay-roommate-18-with-brain-injury-in-claw-hammer-attack-weeks-after-disparaging-remarks-30570610.html

I don't think anyone would be well served by orchestrating a situation where homophobic people are forced to share intimate space with gay people. At least not in the short term.

Gannicus

dark crystal wrote: »

I've seen ads for Gay only flatmates. Is that discrimination against straight people?

If you're going to be sharing a house with someone else for a prolonged period of time, it's best to advertise for someone you'll personally feel more comfortable sharing with. I don't see the big deal in that, tbh.

YES

efb

Packrat wrote: »

Because it's IMPOSSIBLE to discriminate against white males OP.

We are the cause of everything bad in the world, and anything bad that happens to us is good enough for us.

That's some victim mentality

seamus

Yes, it's discrimination. But then preferring blue jeans over black ones is also discrimination. That's what the word means.

Is it illegal? No.

Nick_1494

I think the main issue here is the comfort and safety of the home owner or other tenant. I think it's unfair to compare it to racism or homophobia because statistically those groups aren't more likely to rape and murder someone then someone of a different ethnicity or sexual identification. Of course that's not to suggest all men are rapists or killers but we live in a society were women are told to protect themselves as opposed to they should presume all men are not a threat until they feel uncomfortable with them.

efb

I've seen Irish only - that should not be allowed I've never seen Gay only, gay friendly yes

Donkey Oaty

o1s1n wrote: »

It works both ways in this case though. Feel free to stick 'men only' in your next ad on daft. Nobody is going to stop you.

"Good-looking men only" is another option.

Irish Guitarist

Don't worry. The woman advertising the room will get her comeuppance.

DoYouEvenLift

I'd say some landlords would have the impression that female tenants are cleaner and would take better care of the place. Could be true, compare the state of any of your male friends places to the state of your female friends places.

smash wrote: »

Place your own ad

"Male looking to rent a room in a house or apartment where other occupants are female and hot!"

Let us know how you get on.

Don Danbury, is that you?

padd b1975

Gannicus wrote: »

Then why is it not socially acceptable to put "straights only" or "whites only" on the very same advert.... leaving all legality aside.

"gay friendly" :rolleyes:

o1s1n

padd b1975 wrote: »

"gay friendly" :rolleyes:

It's actually a pretty decent and inoffensive way of saying 'gay only' or 'you better be down with our male on male lovin', yo'

seamus

Gannicus wrote: »

Then why is it not socially acceptable to put "straights only" or "whites only" on the very same advert.... leaving all legality aside.

Because putting in your ad that you're racist or homophobic ("I don't mind black people, I just don't want to live with one") is a sure fire way of getting very few responses, or the wrong responses.

Saying that you only want to live with someone of your gender doesn't mean that you have a problem with someone of another gender; everyone recognises that there are various legitimate reasons why someone may not want to share with a person of the opposite gender, from reasons of privacy to simple things like being able to hang a frilly bra on a clothes horse in the kitchen.

sbsquarepants

You're dead right OP. You should be in no way allowed choose who you live with - you should be assigned a bunk buddie at birth who stays with you till the bitter end!

Packrat

efb wrote: »

I've seen Irish only - that should not be allowed I've never seen Gay only, gay friendly yes

Of course it should. You're right on there.

We the people who have occupied this country for thousands of years should be curtailed and constrained as much as possible. How else will the Africans, the Arabs etc get their 'rightful' amount of our country.

In fact we should all stop having babies too to give them a 'fair chance' like.

padd b1975

o1s1n wrote: »

It's actually a pretty decent and inoffensive way of saying 'gay only' or 'you better be down with our male on male lovin', yo'

It could easily be interpreted as a passive aggressive method of discriminating against a certain type of potential tenant.

Could 'straight friendly' be classed as a decent and inoffensive way of targeting a potential room mate?

The "inequality mob" would be all over that one screaming blue murder.

seamus

padd b1975 wrote: »

It could easily be interpreted as a passive aggressive method of discriminating against a certain type of potential tenant.

Actually I disagree. If I saw "gay friendly" on an ad, it wouldn't deter me from applying. What says to me is that it's a code word for "the current tenant is gay or has no problem with gay applicants".

I'm sure gay people run this minefield when applying for house shares of trying to size up whether their potential new flatmate will suddenly turn into an asshole when they find out they're gay.

"Straight friendly" is implied, in every single ad.

Donkey Oaty

padd b1975 wrote: »

Could 'straight friendly' be classed as a decent and inoffensive way of targeting a potential room mate?

The "inequality mob" would be all over that one screaming blue murder.

The terms "straight-friendly" is actually used quite a bit in house sharing ads, but almost exclusively in the context of "gay-friendly and straight-friendly".

o1s1n

padd b1975 wrote: »

It could easily be interpreted as a passive aggressive method of discriminating against a certain type of potential tenant.

Only if you view it that way.

Would you honestly want to live in a gay flat share as a straight male? If anything, they'd be doing potential straight (and easily shocked/offended) new house mates a favour.

padd b1975 wrote: »

Could 'straight friendly' be classed as a decent and inoffensive way of targeting a potential room mate?

Yes it could. People should be allowed to stipulate who they want to live with. I don't see the issue.

padd b1975 wrote: »

The "inequality mob" would be all over that one screaming blue murder.

Ah yes, the oul 'if this situation was reversed etc then 'they'd' be rioting on the streets' argument. Do you really think that if someone put up a sign saying 'straight friendly' that 'the gays' would be out in full force, revolting? No, they'd probably just move on to the next ad. You know, the one that said 'gay friendly'.

Sauve

I don't see the need for advertising 'gay friendly' or 'straight friendly' accommodation. It's not a potential partner that you're applying for.
Like any sexual activity that a housemate of mine is having, be it straight, gay, or whatever you bloody well want, it's no business of mine as long as I'm not woken up at 3am or they're riding on the kitchen table while I'm eating dinner. If that's the case, then the issue is not with their sexual orientation but with the fact that they're an asshole.

o1s1n

Sauve wrote: »

I don't see the need for advertising 'gay friendly' or 'straight friendly' accommodation. It's not a potential partner that you're applying for.
Like any sexual activity that a housemate of mine is having, be it straight, gay, or whatever you bloody well want, it's no business of mine as long as I'm not woken up at 3am or they're riding on the kitchen table while I'm eating dinner. If that's the case, then the issue is not with their sexual orientation but with the fact that they're an asshole.

Problem is, many people are far less accepting as yourself and would potentially freak out if they found out their new housemate was gay.

I guess it's just a way of avoiding a massive headache down the line.

Sauve

o1s1n wrote: »

Problem is, many people are far less accepting as yourself and would potentially freak out if they found out their new housemate was gay.

"Oh no I'll catch the gay off him"

padd b1975

Donkey Oaty wrote: »

The terms "straight-friendly" is actually used quite a bit in house sharing ads, but almost exclusively in the context of "gay-friendly and straight-friendly".

Can't they just say "friendly housemate wanted"?

Daith

padd b1975 wrote: »

"gay friendly" :rolleyes:

Yes. It's not saying "gays only".

padd b1975 wrote: »

Can't they just say "friendly housemate wanted"?

Sadly not. Gay people can be cnuts sometimes. Esp when they're dying of a hangover.

strobe

efb wrote: »

I've seen Irish only - that should not be allowed I've never seen Gay only, gay friendly yes

I've seen "gay only" multiple times, rather than just gay friendly. Personally I've no problem with it, but I'd have no problem with "straight only" either, or "white only" or "Irish only" tbh, I certainly dont see any difference between "gay only", "female only", "straight only" or "Korean only" and don't think they should be treated any differently.

I don't discriminate when it comes to discrimination.

messrs

Gannicus wrote: »

I am on daft at the moment looking to rent a room in the area I currently live as I know the locality and familiar with the area and like it here. The only problem is that when I put in all my criteria I found a few places I really like. However I have looked at the ads and they all say female roommate only.

Are you allowed make statements such as "female only applicants" or "looking for female roommate only" or vice versa in relation to male roommates when it comes to advertising a room.

If a job was advertised as only one specific gender is allowed apply it would be classed as discrimination. If I were gay and refused the room or refused it because I was from a different ethnic background there would be newspaper articles and radio shows etc about it.

If we were to go by the book then definition alone then yes it is discrimination but at the end of the day is it just personal preference?

You constantly hear about people looking for the government to do something about the fact that so many of the rental listings say "rent allowance not accepted" etc and there are loads of different groups canvassing the government to the same effect.

In this day and age should people be allowed to refuse to rent someone a room based on the gender.

Is it possible its all females living there already and they would just feel more comfortable living with another female?

Donkey Oaty

padd b1975 wrote: »

Can't they just say "friendly housemate wanted"?

I'm sure they could. Sometimes you see "open-minded housemate wanted".