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Sex discrimination

All people, regardless of their sex, should be treated fairly and given equal opportunities. Men and women should be treated fairly and given equal opportunities. It is against the law to treat you unfairly or bully you because of your sex. Outdated gender stereotypes can lead to sexist attitudes and discriminatory behaviour. Women are more likely to experience sex discrimination, particularly in the workplace.

A young black women in a white top looks directly at the camera.

What is sex discrimination?

Sex discrimination is when someone treats you unfairly, including bullying you, because of your sex.

Under the Equal Opportunity Act 2010, sex can include being male or female or a person with an intersex variation. Sex is now defined by a person’s possession of certain physical features, including the characteristics listed as sex characteristics.  

Australian courts recognise that, in some instances, a person’s sex characteristics may not be clearly female or male. 

You may choose to identify as a gender that may or may not be the same as the sex you were designated with at birth. Your right to do so is protected under the Act as gender identity.  

There are some characteristics that can be related to your sex but have separate protection under the law. These are:

Examples of sex discrimination

  • A golf club limiting the number of Saturday tee-off times for women but not men.
  • A school only providing equipment for the boys’ football team and not the girls’.
  • A man being asked to leave a shop for browsing in the women’s clothing section.
  • A father not being offered a place in the local mothers’ group even though he is the primary carer for his baby.

How does the law protect me?

Discrimination is against the law if it happens in an area of public life such as:

Under the Equal Opportunity Act, duty holders (such as employers, schools, and goods and service providers) have a positive duty to eliminate discrimination, sexual harassment and victimisation in these areas, as far as possible.

It is also against the law to victimise a person, which means treat them badly, because they have made complaint about discrimination or helped someone else make a complaint.

You can make a complaint

Get help from us.

You can make a complaint to us if you think you have experienced:

If you wish, someone else can make a complaint for you. Find out how we help people resolve complaints.

We can also give you information about your rights.

Sex discrimination at work

The majority of sex discrimination complaints that come to us are work related (72.2% in 2020-21).

While a person is responsible for their own unlawful behaviour, employers can also be held responsible.

Under the Equal Opportunity Act, employers have a positive duty to eliminate discrimination, sexual harassment and victimisation as far as possible.

Victoria is unique in having a positive duty, which creates an opportunity to prevent unlawful behaviour. It helps organisations put a healthy workplace culture in place, just as occupational health and safety laws require employers to take appropriate steps to ensure injuries don’t occur.

To ensure they are complying with the positive duty, organisations should also put measures in place to ensure that complaints are responded to swiftly and appropriately when they do arise.

The positive duty applies to employers of all sizes, regardless of whether they are a major company or a small cafe, and covers all types of workers:

  • full-time, part-time and casual employees
  • agents and contract workers
  • trainees and apprentices.

It applies to all stages of employment, including:

Examples of sex discrimination in the workplace

  • Not hiring a woman because the boss thinks she won’t fit into a traditionally male workplace.
  • Offering women and men different rates of pay or benefits for the same job.
  • Not promoting a woman to a more senior position because it’s assumed the other staff won’t respect her authority.
  • Dividing up work tasks based on whether staff are male or female.
  • Insisting women wear different clothing at work to men, for example, short skirts.
  • Not considering women for a senior role.

Are there any exceptions to the law?

There are some exceptions in the Equal Opportunity Act that mean it’s not against the law to discriminate in particular circumstances. For example, discrimination is not against the law if there is a real risk to someone’s health, safety or property.

Find out more about exceptions.

My human rights under the Charter

Every Victorian has the right to equal and effective protection against discrimination, and to enjoy their human rights without discrimination.

Victoria’s Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities contains 20 basic rights that promote and protect the values of freedom, respect, equality, and dignity.

The Victorian Government, local councils and other public authorities must always consider Charter rights, including the right to equality, when they create laws, develop policies and deliver their services.

Find out more about your human rights under the Charter and what to do if you think they have been breached.

Equitable Briefing Initiative: Aggregate data report – Jul 2017

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Address
Level 3, 204 Lygon Street Carlton Victoria 3053

General enquiries
enquiries@veohrc.vic.gov.au

Reception
1300 891 848

Enquiry line
1300 292 153 or (03) 9032 3583

Interpreters
1300 152 494

NRS Voice Relay
1300 555 727 then use 1300 292 153

Media enquiries
0447 526 642

The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission acknowledges that we work on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We also work remotely and serve communities on the lands of other Traditional Custodians.

We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.