I am not sure on the lines on the sexual discrimination as it applies to private companies. I am sure that there are laws prevailing within overnmental departments unless you can justify that only a female could do this role. This could well be the case for permanent positions in some areas of women's health, especially when dealing with certain cultural backgrounds.

In private practice this also is a consideration however I would like to think that if I want to advertising for a male or a female applicant then I should be able to do so. I would have different skills for some jobs and different genders for other needs, e.g. treating my Arab female clients. The CSP may have rules and regs on this for it's advertising in it's magazine. Discrimination is defined under the law and I think this relates only to a situation where a position could be just as easily be filled by either gender. In some areas people also try to get a balance in their staff so might be wanting to increase the count of one or other gender.

Overall if this is the need of the employer then this will be the result of inteviews in any case. So by being honest and saying that one if looking for wither a male or female may save the others a lot of wasted time.

Any other thoughts?