Hi, Lablover! I'm not quite sure what all the "gossip" is that is going on at work. I might be totally off the mark, then. But are you suggesting that maybe it has something to do with sexual activity?
I know what you mean about the bias about gender. A lot of Americans are naming their daughters what used to be male names or at least gender-neutral names, because they believe that any people reading job applications, etc. might be biased against women.....
I get a bit irked about even having to indicate "sex" on doctors' forms.....Since I'm female, I'm an "F."
I hope you don't mind my sharing this funny story about that kind of issue....A lady's grandson got hold of her driver's license and looked it over. He then approached his grandma. "Grandma," he said, "I know know why you and Grandpa got divorced."
"Oh," the Grandma said, surprised. "Why's that?"
"Well," her grandson responded, "I looked at your driver's license and it said that you got an 'F' in sex!"
I hate bias, too. Especially now, bias against the mentally ill.....