The appointment of a man as Scotland’s first period dignity officer made headlines across the globe.
The hiring of Dundonian Jason Grant to the pioneering Tayside role sparked outrage – with tennis legend Martina Navratilova calling it “f***ing ridiculous”.
News of the position – which saw The Courier’s coverage highlighted by The Washington Post – emerged as Scotland became the first country in the world where public institutions are legally enforced to provide free period products.
As controversy raged, Dundee City Council leader John Alexander called for calm and more context, adding: “Male midwives are not controversial, but there is no doubting that they have no experience of child birth.”
That remark led to many asking: Should the vacancy have been limited to female applicants by applying part of the Equality Act 2010?
This is the verdict of dispute resolution specialist John Kydd and employment law expert Ken Glass, both of Gilson Gray LLP in Dundee.
To answer this, one must consider the job description and what is to be expected of a person fulfilling that role.
If for example, the role involves the discussion, or even demonstration of period products with young girls and women of all ages and faiths then it must be questioned whether, for example young women, women with religious beliefs, or vulnerable women would be comfortable discussing or having period products demonstrated to them by a man having regard to issues of privacy and decency....
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