Ask HN: Do you identify your race and gender in a job application?

I'm currently going through an extensive job search and I noticed that companies ask race and gender identity questions quite often. So far I've always answered them openly and honestly, but I'm starting to have doubts if this is a right strategy and I should rather tick that "prefer not to answer" option.

I suspect that either approach can go wrong in its own way. If I identify my race and gender, it might go against the company's quota (assuming it exists). If I decline to answer, it may be perceived as if the candidate is not quite open and therefore may reduce trust.

I'll appreciate your perspective on this.

As I've wondered some time ago about these questionnaires, as I've got, answers are not visible to HR, at least to hiring manager. Collected into separate DB, not connected to applications.

And once in a while may be checked by some internal/external audit to compare rates: e.g. black/white applied vs. black/white hired.

Not an expert, have no insight, just my romantic believe in how it should work :)

I think it very much depends on which country you're in on the legality of this. In the United States discriminating in the hiring based on these is illegal and even asking these questions as part of the hiring process can be highly suspect as it does open up a cause of action for you to indicate potential discrimination. Now, there are exceptions to that if race and gender fundamental requirement for the job. For example if you are casting for a movie or play the parts could have very specific race, gender, age requirements. The vast majority of jobs this is not the case.

I would absolutely refuse to answer any question in regards to this prior to hiring. Once I was hired it becomes a different matter. As others have pointed out there are legal reporting requirements companies must follow that include this data. But this data should not be used prior to hiring nor should it need to be known.