Measuring sex, gender & gender identity Equality and Human Rights Commission, UK

Sex or gender? Definitions 'Sex' refers to biological and physiological characteristics 'Gender' refers to socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities, and attributes.

Questions used in surveys What is your sex? Male or female Your gender – are you... Male, female Is the person male or female? Rarely there are 3 response categories, e.g. male, female, other (Census of India)

More definitions Gender reassignment – the process of transitioning from one gender to another Trans person – includes transsexual people, androgyne or polygender people and others who define as gender variant.

Problems with questions on sex or gender What is being asked for? Whose definition? Answer categories

Problems with questions on gender identity Transgender added to question on gender or sexual orientation Narrow definition Too wordy or difficult to understand

Developing & testing questions Focus groups Cognitive testing Quantitative testing

Focus groups Seven groups – four trans & three non-trans Obtain views on specific questions & variants General acceptability of asking questions about gender identity

Cognitive testing 16 trans and 16 non-trans interviewees Examining the question and answer process in more detail Variations in question wording or answer categories

Questions on... birth sex At birth were you described as... Please tick one option –Male –Female –Intersex –I prefer not to say

... Gender identity Which of the following describes how you think of yourself? Please tick one option –Male –Female –In another way (write-in)

... Gender reassignment Have you gone through any part of a process (including thoughts and actions) to change from the sex you were described as at birth to the gender you identify with, or do you intend to? (This could include changing your name, wearing different clothes, taking hormones or having any gender reassignment surgery) –Yes (go to next question) –No (go to end)

... Gender reassignment continued Continuing to think about these examples, which of the following options best applies to you? Please tick one option –I am thinking about going through this process –I am currently going through this process –I have already been through this process –I have been through this process then changed back –None of the above (write-in) –I prefer not to say

... Trans identity Which of the following describes how you think of yourself? Tick all that apply –Trans man –Trans woman –Transsexual person –Gender variant person –Cross dressing person –Transvestite person –Intersex person –In another way (write-in) –I prefer not to say

Quantitative testing Online survey About 10,000 respondents Suite of five questions tested: birth sex, gender identity, gender reassignment (2) and trans identity

Selected results Response rates good – only 18 people dropped out of the survey 100 respondents had gone through any part of the gender reassignment process 15 respondents reported different birth sex and gender identity

Selected results continued Only 4 respondents said that they were described as ‘intersex’ at birth, while 12 answered ‘I prefer not to say’ 38 respondents chose to describe themselves ‘in another way’ when asked how they think of themselves Little impact on sex ratios - between 97.8 and 98.1 males per 100 females

Suggested discussion points What questions do you use to collect data on sex or gender? Has there been any demand for alternatives? Have alternatives been considered and what was the result?