Whether a woman is pregnant or not is her business, and her business only. Until she decides to reveal her status, that's the way it goes.
On top of that, her professional life doesn't necessarily need to be impacted by her pregnancy un less she feels she requires special consideration or until she needs to take time off to prepare for her child and then care for it.
So, knowing this, in the year 2017, you may be shocked (or, more likely, fatigued) to hear that Spanish airline Iberia's hiring process required female candidates to take pregnancy tests.
These tests were apparently largely administered to women who were hoping to join cabin crews.
Though, since Spain has laws prohibiting gender discrimination, the airline got slapped with a hefty £22,500 fine and they pulled the archaic pregnancy test requirement.
Since the news broke, the airline have put out a statement, in which they defend the test in the name of safety.
They also explain that they have never not hired someone due to their pregnancy, saying, 'Iberia has never not hired a woman on the basis of her being pregnant, so long as she has met the necessary requirements for the position.'
Indeed, they suggest they have hired 5 out of 6 of the pregnant applicants they received in the last year.
Though, many have pointed out that flying is not said to be 'unsafe' for a pregnant woman until her third trimester.
The New York Times reported that before the practice was pulled it was heavily and publicly criticised in Spain.
One of the two main labour unions in Spain called the Unión General de Trabajadores said in a statement, 'There is no reason to justify it'.
Quite.
Daisy Murray is the Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, spotlighting emerging designers, sustainable shopping, and celebrity style. Since joining in 2016 as an editorial intern, Daisy has run the gamut of fashion journalism - interviewing Molly Goddard backstage at London Fashion Week, investigating the power of androgynous dressing and celebrating the joys of vintage shopping.
