NEW YORK — A job candidate named Wu Weixa is on the line with a recruiter for a position at the United Nations. As the Skype call launches, Weixa’s name pops up on the interviewer’s computer screen.
Just as quickly, the questions flow through the interviewer’s mind: Does he call her “Wu” or “Weixa?” A glance at her resume reveals she is female, 32 years old and Chinese. How is her French? She says she wants a U.N. headquarters position to “settle down for a bit.” Does that mean she wants to become a parent — if so, how will she combine that with her career?