Jekyll2023-08-04T20:31:24+01:00https://kenglish95.github.io/feed.xmlKirstie Ken English personal descriptionKirstie Ken English (they/them)T.E.M.P.S Question Design Standards2022-06-28T00:00:00+01:002022-06-28T00:00:00+01:00https://kenglish95.github.io/posts/2022/06/TEMPS<p><img src="/images/TEMPS Header.png" alt="" title="T.E.M.P.S SURVEY DESIGN STANDARDS" /></p>
<p>I’m often asked for specific guidance on designing sex, gender and sexuality survey questions. I’m in the process of producing a freely accessible online toolkit on this subject as well as an academic publication discussing trans data representation in more depth. However, this takes time and I know that there is a pressing gap in guidance. To help address this I am going to share the T.E.M.P.S question design standards. T.E.M.P.S represents five of the key recommendations based on my research with groups currently overlooked by UK population surveys(see information on my research design <a href="https://youtu.be/veSC4E2vBMI">here</a>).</p>
<p>These design standards were produced with population surveys in mind. The application of each standard will differ depending on the context. They may have some relevance to other data collection exercises on sex, gender and sexuality or other forms of demographic data but were not designed with these in mind.</p>
<p>Before using TEMPS you should first consider the following questions:</p>
<ol>
<li>Do you need this data?</li>
<li>Do you understand how your target population discusses these characteristics?</li>
<li>Can you communicate why you need the data, how you will use it and who can access it?</li>
<li>Could giving you information benefit the most marginalised groups providing you with data?</li>
</ol>
<p>If the answer to any of these is no then you should not be collecting this data. If you are wondering you probably don’t need data on sex assigned at birth so you shouldn’t be asking about it. If you are conducting medical research where sex characteristics may be significant consider asking directly about the relevant characteristics. This blog post focuses primarily on categorical gender and sexuality questions as well as trans status/gender modality questions.</p>
<p>There is a TLDR section at the end of this post that summaries the key points of the T.E.M.P.S question design standards without as much context or discussion. If you are questioning the assumptions behind your survey designs you’ve already taken the first step towards designing better surveys.</p>
<h2 id="text-boxes-for-options-not-listed">Text boxes for options not listed</h2>
<p>Focus group and survey participants in my research emphasised the significance of including the ability to write in options not listed. Gender and sexuality questions without a text box limit the participants who can be represented to those recognised by survey designers who may or may not have a strong understanding of gender or sexuality.</p>
<p>Some survey designers in an attempt to recognise that not everyone will fall within the listed categories will include an “other” option. Participants in my research saw this as literal othering as it showed a lack of care about anyone who did not fall within the listed categories. Other options also tend to lump together what could be radically different populations. Until the data from the latest round of censuses is released the Annual Population Survey(APS) represents the Office of National Statistics’s (ONS) main tool for creating sexuality estimates for the UK. In 2020 0.7% of respondents to the Annual Population Survey(APS) sexual orientation question selected other (<a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/sexuality/datasets/sexualidentityuk">ONS, 2020</a>). There was no text option for these respondents so there is no way to tell who if part of that 0.7%. Within my research some identifies expressed by my respondents that fell outside of the categories of lesbian, gay , bisexual and heterosexual were: asexual, demisexual, pansexual, aromantic, queer and polyamorous. These categories can vary significantly from each other so lumping them all together based on what they are not makes little sense. Yes, they may represent small groups and some grouping of observations may be required during analysis but hardcoding this into the design of the question limits the depth of analysis and can be seen as making a value judgment on who matters.</p>
<p>During the design process of the 2022 Scottish census, NRS with backing from LGBTI+ groups such as the Equality Network proposed the use of predictive text to help ensure text box responses were recorded the same way, making cleaning and analysing the data easier and saving some time for the participants. Despite the functional benefits of this, it was dropped due to the attitudes of the committee responsible for the census (<a href="https://kevinguyan.com/2020/04/30/predictably-queer/">Guyan, 2020</a>). Adopting predictive text in online surveys could help maximise their functionality.</p>
<h2 id="expansive-options-informed-by-common-text-responses">Expansive options informed by common text responses</h2>
<p>Text box responses are harder to analyse (not impossible, so suck it up) and respondents in my research did note not being the main options listed could be seen as a judgment on their value and legitimacy. Yes, no survey question on gender or sexuality will ever be able to list all the ways that people identify but having as expansive a list as possible, informed by common responses to previous surveys can help create more inclusive surveys which are easier to analyse with fewer text responses.</p>
<p>Having a more expansive list of options can help address hetero/cis normative assumptions about the nature of gender and sexuality. If all gender questions include 2 options and all sexual orientation questions only record based on identifies associated with being attracted to one or both of those two options then claims about the nature of gender and sexuality are being made. This isn’t to say that the categories of lesbian, gay , bisexual or heterosexual assume a gender binary or that people who fall into these categories have sexualities defined in terms of gender but rather some people claim that is what sexual orientations questions are about. Surveys that include options like non-binary, gender fluid, queer, asexual and demisexual can help reinforce that gender is not a binary and our sexuality is not only tied to gender.</p>
<p>Assuming consistency of responses (which can’t be taken for granted) if the 374 respondents to the online survey I conducted were asked to answer a binary gender question then 131 would be unable to answer. If these same respondents were asked to answer sexuality questions with only the options, lesbian, gay, bisexual and heterosexual then 101 of them would be overlooked as they did not describe themselves using such terms.</p>
<h2 id="multiple-options-can-be-selected">Multiple options can be selected</h2>
<p>Currently, survey questions on gender and sexuality ask you to select one option despite said options not being mutually exclusive. In my research, I provided survey respondents with the opportunity to select more than one gender and sexuality option and this is the data I collected.</p>
<p><img src="/images/Gender labels count.png" alt="" title="A bar plot showing the genders of 347 LGBTI+ people ages 16+ in the UK. It also shows the count of how many labels people tended to select" /></p>
<h5 id="figure-1-survey-responses-to-gender--gender-modality-questions--count-of-labels-selected">Figure 1: Survey responses to gender & gender modality questions + count of labels selected</h5>
<p>Figure 1 shows how the 347 LGBTI+ people ages 16+ that I surveyed in the UK described their gender and gender modality and the number of different gender options they selected. I did not include the gender modality terms like transgender, transexual and cisgender in the count of gender terms as gender modality is a separate characteristic from gender. 170 respondents selected 2 or more gender options meaning that in a normal survey, even one with an expansive list of options at least 170 of these respondents would have an element of their gender overlooked.Assuming that when provided with a binary question respondents who stated they were men or women would still do so, then a binary sex/gender question would overlook 131 of the respondents to this survey completely and the intricacies of identities for 72 men and 144 women.</p>
<p><img src="/images/Sexuality label count.png" alt="" title="A bar plot showing the genders of 347 LGBTI+ people ages 16+ in the UK. It also shows the count of how many labels people tended to select" /></p>
<h5 id="figure-2-survey-responses-to-sexuality-question--count-of-labels-selected">Figure 2: Survey responses to sexuality question + count of labels selected</h5>
<p>Figure 2 indicates the same as Figure 1 but for the sexuality question. 202 respondents selected 2 or more options to this question (excluding the lesbians who also indicated they were gay (40)).</p>
<p>Respondents not fitting neatly within one box may be inconvenient in terms of analysis but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to represent them accurately. We don’t know what analysis reflecting the complexity of gender and sexuality may uncover.</p>
<h2 id="prefer-not-to-say-options-included">Prefer not to say options included</h2>
<blockquote>
<p>“I think when you say being visible, it’s like, being visible to whom, I would want to be told who I’m visible to. Whether this is on a database somewhere in the government, then people could pay to get access to it and who knows about me, we don’t know what they know about me, and that just freaks me out a bit.” (Jess a trans woman from the trans focus group who uses she/her)</p>
</blockquote>
<p>As would be expected from reserach where respondents actively sought to participate most of the data collected was in favour of survey representation. However, there was still recognition of the risk of survey representation and some apprehension particularly surrounding who we could be becoming visible to.</p>
<p>Respondents emphasised knowing who was collecting the data, why and exactly how it would be used was important for them when deciding if to disclose information or not. Although my research focused on population surveys the respondents also discussed other situations where data is collected using survey questions. They noted that in many cases questions on matters such as gender were asked when they were not relevant, for example when logging onto public wifi or applying for a supermarket card. If respondents didn’t think the data was needed they didn’t want to answer a question.</p>
<p>In response to the online survey, one respondent noted that:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“These questions can help empower research and development and historical records, but if done incorrectly and without care, could also easily cause damage.” (A survey participant who drescibed themself as non-binary, gender queer,transgender, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, demisexual & queer)</p>
</blockquote>
<p>This sums up the significance good question design can have and why allowing respondents not to answer is so important. Participants should be allowed to assess if disclosing information is in their best interest or not. Particularly given recent legitimisation of hostility towards LGBTI+ people.</p>
<h2 id="separate-question-each-characteristic">Separate question each characteristic</h2>
<p>Sometimes questions conflate characteristics asking about more than one at once. This can have three negative impacts:</p>
<ol>
<li>It can create confusion on what the question is asking about</li>
<li>If it is clear what the question is asking it may take away some of the participants’ ability to choose what information they share</li>
<li>It makes intersectional analysis where you look at issues on the basis of multiple characteristics more difficult</li>
<li>It can send inaccurate messages about the nature of sex, gender and sexuality</li>
</ol>
<p>The latest Australian census provides a clear example of issue one as its use of the term “non-binary sex” created confusion due to its conflation of non-binary genders and variations of sex characteristics(VSC). This issue has severely impacted the quality of the data making it useless for both non-binary people and people with VSC (<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/garbage-data-abs-under-fire-over-non-binary-census-question-20220623-p5aw4q.html">Knott,2022</a>).</p>
<p>Some question designs pair gender and gender modality together. Gender who someone is, gender modality is how that relates to their sex assigned at birth. Pairing these things together may make it so trans people can’t disclose one element of themselves without disclosing the other. It may also separate trans men and women from men and women generally, which is not only a harmful and inaccurate message but adds extra steps for researchers wishing to look at the experiences of all men and women trans and cis alike.</p>
<p>The trans status/gender modality question utilised in the latest censuses in England, Wales and Scotland has sometimes been referred to as a gender identity question. Although this question does feature a text box for trans people to specify their gender it is primarily about gender modality. My worry is that by calling this type of question a gender identity question it infers that gender is this less legitimate thing only trans people possess.</p>
<h2 id="tldr-temps">TLDR: T.E.M.P.S</h2>
<p>When designing questions ask yourself:</p>
<h3 id="text-boxes">Text boxes:</h3>
<p>Does this question need a text box? If it is a categorical question asking respondents to select from a range of genders or sexualities then the answer is likely yes.</p>
<h3 id="expansive-questons">Expansive questons:</h3>
<p>Does this question need more options? If it is a categorical question asking respondents to select from a range of genders or sexualities then the answer is likely yes. You could find other options by looking at common text box responses to questions like your own.</p>
<h3 id="multiple-options">Multiple options:</h3>
<p>Should your participants be able to select more than one option? If it is a categorical question asking respondents to select from a range of genders or sexualities then the answer is likely yes.</p>
<h3 id="prefer-not-to-say-option">Prefer not to say option:</h3>
<p>Should participants be able to tick a “prefer not to say” box if they do not want to answer a particular question but still participate in the rest of the survey? The answer is always yes.</p>
<h3 id="seperate-questions-for-each-charteristic">Seperate questions for each charteristic:</h3>
<p>Does your survey ask about more than one characteristic using one question? For example, do you use a trans status/gender modality question which also lets trans people write in their gender identity? It could be better to separate that out into two questions so it’s easier to analyse and participants can choose to disclose each bit of information separately.</p>
<h2 id="authors-note-on-the-use-of-temps">Authors note on the use of T.E.M.P.S</h2>
<p>If you find the T.E.M.P.S Question Design Standards helpful please incorporate them into your work. I would ask if you do so that you cite this blog post. These standards are based on an ethically approved PhD project funded by the University of Glasgow College of Social Sciences Scholarship. Keep an eye out for my future publications on survey design either here or on my <a href="https://twitter.com/kenglish95">Twitter</a>. Citation in Harvard format:</p>
<p>English, K (2022) T.E.M.P.S. Question Design Standards, Available at: https://kenglish95.github.io/posts/2022/06/TEMPS</p>Kirstie Ken English (they/them)Social researcher role search2022-06-28T00:00:00+01:002022-06-28T00:00:00+01:00https://kenglish95.github.io/posts/2022/07/employment%20call<p><img src="/images/SOCIAL RESEARCHER NEEDED.png" alt="" title="SOCIAL RESEARCHER NEEDED?" /></p>
<h3 id="updated-for-summer-2023">Updated for Summer 2023</h3>
<p>I’m a mixed methods social researcher with specialised quantitative data analysis skills and particular insights into gender, sexuality and human rights. I am close to completing my PhD in Sociology on how differences of sex, gender and sexuality should be represented by UK surveys. From Summer 2023 I will be available to assist on research projects. See my <a href="https://kenglish95.github.io/cv/">CV</a> for specific details on my skills, experiences and qualifications. If you wish to work with me please email kenglishresearch@gmail.com.</p>
<h3 id="areas-of-expertise">Areas of expertise:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Quantitative data analysis</li>
<li>Mixed methods research</li>
<li>Gender</li>
<li>Sexuality</li>
<li>Human Rights</li>
<li>Feminist research</li>
<li>Queer theory and queer methods</li>
<li>Survey design</li>
<li>Methods training</li>
<li>Research engaging with LGBTI+ people</li>
<li>EDI data collection</li>
<li>Using illustrations as part of dissemination</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="examples-of-previous-work">Examples of previous work:</h3>
<p><a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/6413232bf29ba901ed614415/t/644627b9a4c2fd7092a4df40/1682319303577/SYWS+22-23+Experiences+of+Accessing+Healthcare.pdf">The Status of Young Women in Scotland 2022-2023: Experiences of Accessing Healthcare </a></p>
<ul>
<li>Qualitative & qualitative research, working group facilitation and illustrations for final report</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Final-report-The-practitioner-perspective-on-access-to-justice-for-social-rights-1.pdf">The Practitioner Perspective on Access to Justice for Social Rights: Addressing the Accountability Gap</a></p>
<ul>
<li>Analysing qualitative data, feeding back to research team and producing a policy briefing</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.scottishhumanrights.com/media/2013/scotland-2019-obi-summary-report-vfinal.pdf">Open Budget Survey 2019: Scotland: Summary</a></p>
<ul>
<li>Collecting data on budget documents and assessing it via internationally recognised best practice. I have repeated this work for the 2021/2022 Scottish budget, which a report will be released on after I have engaged with the Scottish government alongside the SHRC.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="role-requirements">Role requirements:</h3>
<p>Pay: Between £20-£33 an hour depending on the nature of the role and length of the contract. This is based on my latest earnings and <a href="https://www.artistsunion.scot/rates_of_pay">recommendations from the Scottish Artist Union</a>.</p>
<p>Hours: 7.5-22.5 hours a week until September 1st from which time I will be open to full time roles.</p>
<p>Start date: As soon as needed</p>
<p>Location: Remote, commutable from Glasgow or only requiring occasional in person meetings or in person field work outside of Glasgow.</p>Kirstie Ken English (they/them)LGBTQ+ Census Guide 20222022-02-12T00:00:00+00:002022-02-12T00:00:00+00:00https://kenglish95.github.io/posts/2022/02/LGBTQcensusguideScot<p>The 20th of March 2022 is census day in Scotland. This census year is of particular importance to the LGBTQ+ community. Here I provide some information for LGBTQ+ people filling in the census. As a non-binary person, I’m disappointed by the binary sex question. However, that makes the optional text box in the “trans status or trans history” question more important. If your trans and feel comfortable doing so please make use of that box so our community is represented accurately.</p>
<p><img src="/images/1.png" alt="" title="LGBTQ+ Census Guide 2022" /></p>
<p><img src="/images/2.png" alt="" title="Why does the 2022 census matter? 1.This census will provide the most accurate estimation of the LGBTQ+ population in the UK so far 2.It can help us understand the demographics of our community 3.Census data can be used to highlight inequalities 4.Census data informs policy 5.Having more data on our community can help LGBTQ+ groups cater to our needs" /></p>
<p><img src="/images/3.png" alt="" title="How does it work? Between the end of February 2022 and March 20th your household will receive a letter with instructions for taking part.One person in the household usually fills in the census for everyone. If you do not wish for the people you live with to see your responses you can request an individual form. Any reponses provided on an individual form will overide responses about you on your household form The letter will include information on how to request an individual or paper copy online or over the phone Your information will be kept private.All census data is anonymised for 100 years" /></p>
<p><img src="/images/4.png" alt="" title="The sex question This is the only mandatory gender or sexuality question. This means that on the online census you won't be able to skip it.The aim of this question is to understand how many men or women there are in the UK. Meaning if you are a trans man you should select male and if you are a trans woman you should select female. It is unknown what guidance will accompany this question. However, even if the guidance states that it is asking about legal sex at no point will anyone check if you have a GRC or ask to see your birth certificate." /></p>
<p><img src="/images/5.png" alt="" title="The trans status trans history question.This is for people ages 16 and over. It is an optional question meaning it can be skipped on the online and paper forms. Select no if:You are a man who was assigned male at birthYou are a woman who was assigned female at birthSelect yes if: You are a man who was assigned female at birthYou are a woman who was assigned male at birthYour relationship to gender doesn't fit within the category of man or woman Make sure to use the text box to indicate how you identify. This is particularly important if you are non-binary since it is the only opportunity to have your relationship to gender recorded." /></p>
<p><img src="/images/6.png" alt="" title="The sexual orientation question This is for people ages 16 and over. It is an optional question meaning it can be skipped on the online and paper forms.If you do not feel represented by the options provided please make use of the write in box. You might use this to state that you are:Asexual Aromantic PansexualPolyamorous QueerQuestioningSomeone that doesn't identify " /></p>
<h3 id="the-legal-case-over-the-census">The legal case over the census</h3>
<p>On the 2nd of February the Court of Sessions in Edinburgh heard the case seeking to change the sex question guidance in the 2022 Scottish census. The current guidance, much like the guidance in the 2011 UK censuses, is “lived sex” guidance meaning it recommends people respond based on how they live. Therefor trans men select male and trans women select female. The case wishes to change to “legal” or “documented sex” guidance which would state that you respond based on your birth certificate. If following this guidance, only trans people with GRCs would respond based on how they are born while other comparable trans people misgender themselves.</p>
<p>The case was brought forward by Fair Play for Women, who previously brought a similar case against ONS over the guidance in the other UK censuses. Although, Fair Play for Women were granted permission to carry out a judicial review over the other UK censuses, the guidance was changed before any such action occurred. We do not currently know the verdict surrounding the Scottish census.</p>
<p>In a previous <a href="https://kenglish95.github.io/posts/2021/02/sex_question_guidance"><code class="language-plaintext highlighter-rouge">blog post</code></a> I discussed the significance (or lack thereof) of the guidance changing in the census in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The key points to note are as follows:</p>
<ol>
<li>
<p>The guidance is not legally binding, you do not have to follow it. In fact, research has suggested most people don’t even read it(<a href="https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/documents/sex-question-recommendation-report/html/"><code class="language-plaintext highlighter-rouge">NRS, 2021</code></a>).</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>There is no way to check if you have followed the guidance. They cannot tell if you have a GRC or not.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>The key negative impact for data users is: If followed “documented sex” guidance produces more ambiguous data due to comparable trans people responding differently with no way to tell on what basis they answered.</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p>In previous blog posts I’ve mentioned that changing the guidance sets a worrying president. It undermines trans peoples’ ability to know themselves best and reinforces regressive binary understandings of sex. Fair Play for Women’s focus on sex question guidance is an attempt at what <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3908495">Collier & Cowan(2021)</a> describe as concept capture. It is hoped that by embedding an regressive binary notion of sex based on the outdated gender recognition system in the census that this could have wider political and legal implications for the understanding of sex, which would greatly harm trans people. This is the primary reason it should be resisted. The impact the guidance has on the census itself is minimal. To make meaningful change to the way we count sex and gender we need to move away from binary sex questions, which exclude everyone outwith the binary and clearly create confusion.</p>
<h3 id="references">References</h3>
<p>Collier, B. & Cowan, S (2021) Queer Conflicts, Concept Capture and Category Co-Option: The Importance of Context in the State Collection and Recording of Sex / Gender Data.</p>
<p>NRS (2021) Scotland’s Census 2021: Sex Question Recommendation Report. [Online]. Available from: https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/documents/sex-question-recommendation-report/html/.</p>Kirstie Ken English (they/them)The 20th of March 2022 is census day in Scotland. This census year is of particular importance to the LGBTQ+ community. Here I provide some information for LGBTQ+ people filling in the census. As a non-binary person, I’m disappointed by the binary sex question. However, that makes the optional text box in the “trans status or trans history” question more important. If your trans and feel comfortable doing so please make use of that box so our community is represented accurately.Perspective on the Sex & Gender Data Working Group Guidance2021-10-05T00:00:00+01:002021-10-05T00:00:00+01:00https://kenglish95.github.io/posts/2021/02/sex-and-gender-data-working-group-new-guidance<p>On the 22nd of September, the Scottish Government’s Sex & Gender Data Working Group published <a href="https://www.gov.scot/publications/data-collection-publication-guidance-sex-gender-identity-trans-status/">guidance</a> on the production & publication of sex, gender and trans status(gender modality) data by public bodies. The guidance is updated from the <a href="https://www.gov.scot/publications/sex-and-gender-in-data-working-group---collecting-data-on-sex-and-gender-draft-guidance-for-feedback/">daft guidance</a>, which the working group took <a href="https://kenglish95.github.io/posts/2021/02/sex-gender-data-working-group/">feedback</a> on in December. Here I will highlight key strengths and weaknesses of the new guidance as well as questions it leaves unanswered.</p>
<h2 id="acknowledges-the-conflation-of-sex--gender">Acknowledges the conflation of sex & gender</h2>
<p>Although the guidance sets out some rough definitions of sex, gender and what it means to be transgender it identifies that these concepts don’t have commonly agreed-upon definitions. Recognizing this they go on to make the important point that:</p>
<p>“For the overwhelming majority of people, all the factors involved in determining sex and gender identity are aligned. For some people, there are differences. People will not necessarily answer a question about their sex in exactly the same way: most will need no reflection at all, some will think about their biology, some their legal sex and some their self-defined sex.”(p8)</p>
<p>This highlights two key points. First, you can’t take for granted that everyone is interpreting sex questions the same way. Second, for people who identify with their sex assigned at birth (cisgender people) sex and gender are always conflated. If a cis person provides data on one they are providing data on the other. This means that the issue of what we wish to represent with sex/gender questions is primarily about the representation of trans people.</p>
<p>The guidance goes on to identify that previously most forms of data collection include no specification on what they mean by the term sex. It accepts that until recently there has been little to no attempt to represent trans people in data.</p>
<h2 id="emphases-the-importance-of-choice">Emphases the importance of choice</h2>
<p>Throughout the guidance, there is emphasis on allowing respondents to choose not to disclose information. All of the example questions they provide are optional questions with an option to “prefer not to say”. This is generally good data collection practice as it respects people’s privacy but is particularly important when collecting data from marginalised groups, for whom that information is particularly sensitive.</p>
<h2 id="the-legal-sex-myth">The legal sex myth</h2>
<p>Both versions of the guidance include the concept of “legal sex” in reference to how a person’s sex is registered on their birth certificate. For trans people, this means that their “legal sex” will be in opposition to their gender/self-defined sex unless they have a Gender Recognition Certificate(GRC). In terms of collecting data to understand who engages with a service, there is little purpose in recording this conceptualisation of legal sex. For cis people, this information will be the same as if you asked them any other sex/gender question. For trans people, legal sex questions count comparable trans people differently based on if they have a GRC or not, which has no direct relevance to how they engage with or experience public bodies or how they are perceived.</p>
<p>Based on statements from the Equality and Human Rights Commission(EHRC) the guidance claims that:</p>
<p>“in UK law sex is understood as binary and a person’s legal sex is determined by what is recorded on a person’s birth certificate. A trans person can change their legal sex by obtaining a GRC and a trans person who does not obtain a GRC retains the (legal) sex recorded on their birth certificate for legal purposes.”(p7)</p>
<p>This is a contested point in law. In their recent paper <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3908495">Collier & Cowan(2021)</a>state there is no one legal definition of sex or gender in UK law. They explain that the concepts of sex and gender are not defined in either the Gender Recognition Act(2004) or the Equality Act(2010).</p>
<p>When considering conceptualisations of sex and gender it’s important to consider what that information could be used for. What purpose would knowing the sex according to someone’s birth certificate/GRC serve? Keeping in mind that this guidance is primarily about the representation of trans people this is a question of, what purpose would counting comparable trans differently people based on if they have a GRC or not serve? The <a href="https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/our-work/news/our-statement-sex-and-gender-reassignment-legal-protections-and-language">EHRC guidance</a> cited by the Sex and Gender Data Working Group said:</p>
<p>“a trans person is protected from sex discrimination on the basis of their legal sex. This means that a trans woman who does not hold a GRC and is therefore legally male would be treated as male for the purposes of the sex discrimination provisions, and a trans woman with a GRC would be treated as female. The sex discrimination exceptions in the Equality Act therefore apply differently to a trans person with a GRC or without a GRC.”</p>
<p>As stated previously The Equality Act (2010), which pertains to sex discrimination, does not define the concept of sex. This means that this stance from the EHRC is not specifically stated in the legislation. When providing <a href="https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/17705/pdf/">evidence on the reform of the Gender Recognition Act Cowan</a> also drew attention to the fact that regardless of how sex is defined the Equality Act(2010), everyone is protected against discrimination on the basis of perception. So if you are discriminated against due to how someone perceives your sex then you are protected by the Equality Act regardless of what your birth certificate states.</p>
<p>Given this, the purpose of recording data on “legal sex” must specifically relate to discrimination exemptions. These are situations in which it’s not considered discrimination to exclude someone based on sex or gender reassignment(being trans). However, Cowan also noted that the Equality Act(2010) sets very specific and stringent criteria that service providers must meet if they were to exclude anyone from their services on this basis. This criteria prevents outright bans on trans people or people assigned a specific sex at birth. Given this, if we were to take the EHRC’s conceptualisation of legal sex at face value, it still isn’t worth including in data collection practices. If someone’s legal sex differs from their gender their legal sex will not as a rule impact how they engage with a public bodies.</p>
<h2 id="when-to-record-sex">When to record sex?</h2>
<p>The guidance mostly promotes questions on lived sex/gender as well as gender modality. It also states that in some circumstances biological or legal sex data should be recorded. However, it is vague about what these circumstances may be.</p>
<p>As previously established legal sex had very little value as a concept for data collection. However, despite this the guidance states that:</p>
<p>“there may be a small number of circumstances when collecting data on self-defined sex only could contribute to the failure of a public body to comply with the PSED”(p11)</p>
<p>The PSED is the Public Sector Equality Duty, which requires public bodies to publish reports on progress they have made relating to equality outcomes. The PSED is based on the Equality Act (2010), which as stated previously does not mention legal sex. Given this it doesn’t seem like public bodies would be in breach of the PSED if they did not record legal sex. If the Sex and Gender Data Working Group think that legal sex data is required in certain circumstances they should be able to explicitly state what these circumstances might be.</p>
<p>In terms of biological sex, the guidance makes clear that due to privacy concerns surrounding biological sex data it shouldn’t be routinely asked about. This is a positive step. Although, more specific guidance on how biological sex data collection should be approached would be beneficial. Simply asking people “what is your biological sex?” won’t always provide useful data at the individual level particularly when identifying what medical screenings may be needed. It would be more direct to ask about the specific sexual characteristic that are of relevance.</p>
<h2 id="the-binary-assumptions">The binary assumptions</h2>
<p>It was encouraging to see a commitment to working with the government’s Non-binary Working Group. I am hopeful that the issues I discuss in this section will be addressed at a later date given engagement between the two working groups. However, I find it perplexing that the draft guidance produced recommendations that were more inclusive of non-binary people than the final guidance.</p>
<p>The draft guidance featured a gender identity question similar to that in the Scottish Household Survey, which allows respondents to select “in another way” and state their specific gender identity. However, in the new guidance there is more focus on a binary sex question with the same lived sex guidance as the 2022 census. It would be inaccurate to categories non-binary people such as myself as either male or female meaning this format of question inherently misrepresents us.</p>
<h2 id="ifhow-should-gender-data-be-used">If/how should gender data be used?</h2>
<p>The trans status question recommended in the guidance is a useful tool as it enables an estimate of the number of trans people and allows people to state their specific identities via a text box. More information is needed on how to clean, apply and share data collected by text boxes. This issue would also apply to the gender identity question promoted in the draft guidance.</p>
<p>You shouldn’t ask people for information if you’re not going to use it. At the same time when dealing with small marginalised communities greater care must be taken to ensure their privacy is protected.</p>
<p>When public bodies publish information on who engaged with their services it could be useful to list commonly stated gender identities or to provide an estimate of the number of service users who identified in some way other than as a man or woman.</p>
<h2 id="closing-thoughts-on-dignity-and-respect">Closing thoughts on “dignity and respect”</h2>
<p>My priorities in terms of data collection by public bodies are that privacy is protected and accurate data is produced which will enable identification of what groups engage with services and their potential needs. This requires questions that clearly state why they are being asked, what the information will be used for and the ability to withhold information. It also requires that these questions make space for reality. Putting people into binary boxes just because it’s easier doesn’t enable better service provision it just produces inaccurate data, continuing to render some service users invisible. Privacy and useful data are my priorities but there is also the matter of dignity and respect. One of the underpinning statistical principles of the guidance was:</p>
<p>“Data collection needs to be carried out in a way that treats people with dignity and respect”(p6)</p>
<p>Asking questions about “legal sex”, which doesn’t exist in law and if answered as intended would mean many trans people misgendering themselves is not treating them with dignity and respect. Nor is neglecting to represent non-binary people. The core issue with these questions is they produce data, which for many trans people can’t be used to meet their needs. That being said if your going to state a key principle of your guidance is dignity and respect legal and/or binary sex questions are not the way to go about it.</p>
<h2 id="references">References</h2>
<p>Collier, B. & Cowan, S. 2021. Queer Conflicts, Concept Capture and Category Co-Option: The Importance of Context in the State Collection and Recording of Sex / Gender Data.</p>
<p>Cowan, S. 2020. <em>Response to Women and Equalities Committee Consultation on Reform of the Gender Recognition Act</em>. [Online]. Available from: <a href="https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/17705/pdf/">link</a>.</p>
<p>EHRC. 2018. <em>Our statement on sex and gender reassignment: legal protections and language</em> [Online]. Available: <a href="https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/our-work/news/our-statement-sex-and-gender-reassignment-legal-protections-and-language">link</a> [Accessed].</p>
<p><em>Equality Act</em> 2010 [Online]. Available from: <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/contents">link</a>.</p>
<p><em>Gender Recognition Act</em> 2004 [Online]. Available from: <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/7/contents">link</a>.</p>
<p>Guyan, K. & English, K. 2021. Sex and Gender in Data Working Group – Response to Draft Guidance.[Online]. Available from:<a href="https://kenglish95.github.io/posts/2021/02/sex-gender-data-working-group/">link</a></p>
<p>Halliday, R. 2020. <em>Working group about a person’s sex and gender Data collection and publication – draft guidance</em>. [Online]. Available from: <a href="https://www.gov.scot/publications/sex-and-gender-in-data-working-group---collecting-data-on-sex-and-gender-draft-guidance-for-feedback/.January">link</a> 2021</p>
<p>Halliday, R. 2021. <em>Data collection and publication guidance: Sex, Gender Identity, Trans Status</em>. [Online]. Available from: <a href="https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/advice-and-guidance/2021/09/data-collection-publication-guidance-sex-gender-identity-trans-status/documents/data-collection-publication-guidance-sex-gender-identity-trans-status/data-collection-publication-guidance-sex-gender-identity-trans-status/govscot%3Adocument/data-collection-publication-guidance-sex-gender-identity-trans-status.pdf">link</a>.</p>Kirstie Ken English (they/them)On the 22nd of September, the Scottish Government’s Sex & Gender Data Working Group published guidance on the production & publication of sex, gender and trans status(gender modality) data by public bodies. The guidance is updated from the daft guidance, which the working group took feedback on in December. Here I will highlight key strengths and weaknesses of the new guidance as well as questions it leaves unanswered.Survey: Representing differences of sex, gender and sexuality in UK population surveys2021-06-05T00:00:00+01:002021-06-05T00:00:00+01:00https://kenglish95.github.io/posts/2021/06/survey<p><img src="/images/strands.png" alt="" title="An info graphic showing the three strands of this reserach, the strands are labeled: Strand 1: Review of current survey practices Strand 2: Explorative focus groups with overlooked groups Strand 3: Survey with LGBTI+ people in the UK" /></p>
<p><a href="https://glasgow-research.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/how-should-differences-of-sex-gender-and-sexuality-be-rep">Survey Link! Ends on July 2nd 2021</a></p>
<p>The third and final strand of my research has begun and I need your help. My research aims to find out how differences of sex, gender and sexuality should be represented in UK population surveys. For the final strand of my research, I am surveying people ages 16 and over who live in the UK and are part of the LGBTI+ community. The survey asks for your perspectives on what information about your sex, gender or sexuality should be recorded. It features questions designed by people whose relationship to sex, gender or sexuality is usually overlooked by UK censuses. You will have the opportunity to share your perspectives on these questions and help identify if they would be good alternatives to current survey practices.</p>
<p>The above diagram depicts my research process. The survey is part of Strand 3. In Strand 2 I engaged with 4 different overlooked groups that were identified by reviewing current survey practices they were:</p>
<ol>
<li>
<p>People with variations of sex characteristics (often referred to as intersex people or people with differences of sex development)</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>People whose gender identities (or lack thereof) are not completely represented by the categories of man or woman (often referred to as non-binary people)</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>People who do not identify with their sex assigned at birth (often referred to as trans people)</p>
</li>
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<p>Anyone who does not identify as only heterosexual/straight, gay, lesbian or bisexual (for example: asexual, aromantic, queer, pansexual and polyamorous people)</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p>In Strand 3’s survey I want to continue to engage with these groups while also talking to the wider LGBTI+ community. This is due to the fact that although lesbian, gay and bisexual people are occasionally represented in population surveys if there is no sexuality question, they are not the assumed norm unlike straight people. The purpose of the survey is to see if the perspectives shared by the Strand 2 focus group participants are held by a larger group. It also gives the opportunity to test the “ideal” questions designed by the focus group participants.</p>
<p>The survey will be used to construct an idea of best survey practise for representing differences of sex, gender and sexuality in the UK. I will then compare that to what is currently done to produce recommendations on how to improve upon our current approaches to asking about sex, gender and sexuality. The overall objective of this research is to further respectful representation of marginalised groups in an attempt to produce data that will help us understand our communities and meet our needs.</p>Kirstie Ken English (they/them)Survey Link! Ends on July 2nd 2021 The third and final strand of my research has begun and I need your help. My research aims to find out how differences of sex, gender and sexuality should be represented in UK population surveys. For the final strand of my research, I am surveying people ages 16 and over who live in the UK and are part of the LGBTI+ community. The survey asks for your perspectives on what information about your sex, gender or sexuality should be recorded. It features questions designed by people whose relationship to sex, gender or sexuality is usually overlooked by UK censuses. You will have the opportunity to share your perspectives on these questions and help identify if they would be good alternatives to current survey practices. The above diagram depicts my research process. The survey is part of Strand 3. In Strand 2 I engaged with 4 different overlooked groups that were identified by reviewing current survey practices they were: People with variations of sex characteristics (often referred to as intersex people or people with differences of sex development) People whose gender identities (or lack thereof) are not completely represented by the categories of man or woman (often referred to as non-binary people) People who do not identify with their sex assigned at birth (often referred to as trans people) Anyone who does not identify as only heterosexual/straight, gay, lesbian or bisexual (for example: asexual, aromantic, queer, pansexual and polyamorous people) In Strand 3’s survey I want to continue to engage with these groups while also talking to the wider LGBTI+ community. This is due to the fact that although lesbian, gay and bisexual people are occasionally represented in population surveys if there is no sexuality question, they are not the assumed norm unlike straight people. The purpose of the survey is to see if the perspectives shared by the Strand 2 focus group participants are held by a larger group. It also gives the opportunity to test the “ideal” questions designed by the focus group participants. The survey will be used to construct an idea of best survey practise for representing differences of sex, gender and sexuality in the UK. I will then compare that to what is currently done to produce recommendations on how to improve upon our current approaches to asking about sex, gender and sexuality. The overall objective of this research is to further respectful representation of marginalised groups in an attempt to produce data that will help us understand our communities and meet our needs.This Queer Counts: A 5 minute zine2021-02-21T00:00:00+00:002021-02-21T00:00:00+00:00https://kenglish95.github.io/posts/2021/02/this-queer-counts-zine<p>The following is a 5 minute zine I made in October. It touches on some ways I have personally been overlooked or misrepresented by surveys. These issues formed one of the key motivations for my research. I have often been overlooked by surveys or forced into ill-fitting boxes. I hope that my research can identify ways to prevent this happening for myself and everyone else who has ever been overlooked by survey designers. This zine and my research focuses on sex, gender and sexuality. However, poor question design is an issue for a range of characteristics.</p>
<p><img src="/images/zine1.JPG" alt="" title="Zine cover: This Queer Counts with tick boxes next to each word and a tick in the box next to the word Queer" /></p>
<p><img src="/images/zine2.JPG" alt="" title="Zine page 1: My research is on how differences of sex, gender and sexuality should be represented by population surveys. Here are some of my personal issues with survey questions. Zine page 2: A drawing of me squeezed into a check box for Gay/lesbian. There is a speech bubble coming from me that says bit of a tight fit" /></p>
<p><img src="/images/zine3.JPG" alt="" title="Zine page 3: There is a spiked torture chamber next to the word female and a drawing of me looking concerned. Zine page 4: Describe your sexuality and a line for an open text box question on which I am lying and saying Queer!" /></p>
<p><img src="/images/zine4.JPG" alt="" title="Zine page 5: I am sitting up on the line looking fed up and saying only if you actually count it. Zine page 6: Without proper representative data intersections of experiences are rendered invisible and policy only considers an arbitrary norm. This is accompanied by a drawing of a crowd." /></p>
<p><img src="/images/zine5.JPG" alt="" title="Page 7: Things to think about when designing a survey...1.What data do you need? 2.Will the application of the data benefit your survey respondents? 3. Who could be excluded or misrepresented by your questions? " /></p>Kirstie Ken English (they/them)The following is a 5 minute zine I made in October. It touches on some ways I have personally been overlooked or misrepresented by surveys. These issues formed one of the key motivations for my research. I have often been overlooked by surveys or forced into ill-fitting boxes. I hope that my research can identify ways to prevent this happening for myself and everyone else who has ever been overlooked by survey designers. This zine and my research focuses on sex, gender and sexuality. However, poor question design is an issue for a range of characteristics.Trans people, data users & the sex question guidance2021-02-16T00:00:00+00:002021-02-16T00:00:00+00:00https://kenglish95.github.io/posts/2021/02/sex-question-guidance<p><img src="/images/sex_gudiance.png" alt="" title="Trans people, data users & the sex question guidance" /></p>
<p>ONS has decided to take two steps forward and one step back when it comes to representing LGBTQ+ people in the 2021 census for England and Wales. The 2021 census will be the first to ask about sexual orientation and if respondents identify with their sex registered at birth. However, progress surrounding the sex question has been limited due to the UKs surge in transphobia. In 2011 responding to trans peoples’ uncertainty surrounding the sex question ONS stated that:</p>
<p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110802131844/https:/2011.census.gov.uk/en/index.php?content_id=1554"><code class="language-plaintext highlighter-rouge">“select the answer which you identify yourself as. You can select either ‘male’ or ‘female’, whichever you believe is correct, irrespective of the details recorded on your birth certificate. You do not need to have a Gender Recognition Certificate.” </code></a></p>
<p>This means that trans women tick female and trans men tick male (no accurate representation for people outwith the binary). Despite data consistency over time being an important factor when designing reoccurring data collection ONS have decided to change the guidance to the following:</p>
<p><a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/census/censustransformationprogramme/questiondevelopment/genderidentity/census2021finalguidanceforthequestionwhatisyoursex"><code class="language-plaintext highlighter-rouge"> “If you are considering how to answer, use the sex recorded on one of your legal documents such as a birth certificate, Gender Recognition Certificate, or passport.” </code></a></p>
<p>If followed this guidance would change how people who don’t identify with their sex registered at birth respond to the sex question.</p>
<h3 id="how-this-impacts-trans-people">How this impacts trans people</h3>
<ol>
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<p>It makes responding to the census more confusing given that some people will have passports and birth certificates that do not match.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>The purpose of the sex question according to ONS is to “identify discrimination or social exclusion based on sex”. The new guidance if followed would prevent this for trans people. A trans person’s documentation does not determine how they are treated. There is nothing material that distinguishes trans people with and without GRCs or updated passports other than the resources and desire to engage with the bureaucratic and sometimes distressing systems to obtain them.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>If trans people respond to the sex question based on how they identify and also answer the sex registered at birth question we would then have an estimate of how many trans men and trans women there are. Understanding the gender demographics of the trans community is useful for LGBTQ+ organisations trying to meet our needs. However, if the new guidance is followed, we won’t have clear gender data on the trans community as the way trans people respond will differ based on their documentation. This will then impact what planning can be done for meeting trans peoples needs.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>The final impact for trans people is the disrespect for our ability to know ourselves and the worrying president this change creates. Legal documentation has never been mentioned in regard to census responses before. All census responses are self-identified given the very nature of how census data is collected. No one checks the “accuracy” of census responses because we respect people’s ability to know themselves.</p>
</li>
</ol>
<h3 id="how-this-impacts-data-users">How this impacts data users</h3>
<ol>
<li>
<p><a href="https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/documents/sex-question-recommendation-report/html/"><code class="language-plaintext highlighter-rouge">NRS</code></a> found that people rarely engage with this type of guidance. Even among trans and non-binary people only 25% read sex question guidance. Given this data users will have no strong basis to assume that people responded based on their documentation. Meaning that the guidance is useless.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>As stated previously if the guidance was to be followed by all respondents data users still wouldn’t be able to tell which trans people had accurate documentation and therefore responded based on their identity and which did not. This can not/should not be checked at any time due to it being a breach of privacy and the principles of self-completed data collection.</p>
</li>
</ol>
<h3 id="advice-to-trans-people">Advice to trans people</h3>
<p>Respond to the census but ignore the sex question guidance. Respond based on how you identify, you know yourself best. No one will be checking, and you won’t get in any trouble for doing this. Legally everyone must submit a census form or face a fine. Regardless of that the census this year is particularly important for LGBTQ+ people, so it is important you complete it(see<a href="https://kenglish95.github.io/posts/2021/01/LGBTQ-census-guide-2021/"><code class="language-plaintext highlighter-rouge">this resource</code></a>for more information). If like myself your not a man or woman things are more difficult given the binary nature of the question and the fact it’s mandatory. Mandatory means that on the online version of the census you won’t be able to skip it. On an unrelated note you can also request a paper copy, information on how to do so will be featured on the letter you receive prior to the census day (March 21st).</p>
<h3 id="advice-to-data-users">Advice to data users</h3>
<p>To fellow data users, if you are concerned about the impact this may have on data quality there are two things to keep in mind. First, the 2011 data was based on lived sex guidance and we used without any issue. Prior to that there was no guidance at all, which means we don’t know how trans people responded. Treat the data from this year’s census with the same pinch of salt you should have been treating previous years. Second, why on earth would you want people to be providing data that has little to no relevance to how they live and that they are unwilling to provide. Have a word with yourself if you think there is anything useful or ethical about that type of data.</p>
<p>It’s my personal view that if the guidance had remained the same and ONS had been clear about that further in advance campaigning could have occurred to ensure that most trans people respond based on how they live. This would have resulted in accurate and useful data rather than the needlessly limited data that we will end up with.</p>Kirstie Ken English (they/them)Sex and Gender Data Working Group Gudiance Response2021-02-08T00:00:00+00:002021-02-08T00:00:00+00:00https://kenglish95.github.io/posts/2021/02/sex-gender-data-working-group<p>In 2019 the Scottish Government asked the Chief Statistician to convene a Working Group to explore the collection, disaggregation and use of data on sex and gender. In December, the Working Group published <a href="https://www.gov.scot/publications/sex-and-gender-in-data-working-group---collecting-data-on-sex-and-gender-draft-guidance-for-feedback/"><code class="language-plaintext highlighter-rouge">draft guidance</code></a> for public bodies on the collection of sex and gender data. The guidance seeks to standardise a diversity of data collection approaches in Scotland and is generally strong in terms of iterating that researchers should ask questions that will return the data they require and ensuring practices are inclusive to maximise the number of people who can participate in data collection activities.</p>
<p>The working group is accepting feedback on the guidance until the 12th of February. I would strongly encourage anyone with quantitative data expertise, particularly that relating to sex, gender and sexuality demographics, provide feedback to the working group.</p>
<p>I co-produced the following letter with Dr Kevin Guyan, which outlines our views on the strengths and weaknesses of the Working Group’s draft guidance:</p>
<p><a href="http://kenglish95.github.io/files/Sex_Gender_Data_Working_Group_Letter.pdf">View our feedback here</a></p>
<embed src="/files/Sex_Gender_Data_Working_Group_Letter.pdf" width="600" height="700" type="application/pdf" />Kirstie Ken English (they/them)In 2019 the Scottish Government asked the Chief Statistician to convene a Working Group to explore the collection, disaggregation and use of data on sex and gender. In December, the Working Group published draft guidance for public bodies on the collection of sex and gender data. The guidance seeks to standardise a diversity of data collection approaches in Scotland and is generally strong in terms of iterating that researchers should ask questions that will return the data they require and ensuring practices are inclusive to maximise the number of people who can participate in data collection activities. The working group is accepting feedback on the guidance until the 12th of February. I would strongly encourage anyone with quantitative data expertise, particularly that relating to sex, gender and sexuality demographics, provide feedback to the working group. I co-produced the following letter with Dr Kevin Guyan, which outlines our views on the strengths and weaknesses of the Working Group’s draft guidance: View our feedback hereLGBTQ+ Census Guide 20212021-02-03T00:00:00+00:002021-02-03T00:00:00+00:00https://kenglish95.github.io/posts/2021/01/LGBTQcensusguide-4<p>The 21st of March 2021 is census day in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This census year is of particular importance to the LGBTQ+ community. Here I provide some information for LGBTQ+ people filling in the census. As a non-binary person, I’m disappointed by the use of a binary sex question. However, that makes the optional text box in the “sex registered at birth” question more important. If your trans and/or non-binary please make use of that box so our community is represented accurately.</p>
<p><img src="/images/censusguide1.png" alt="" title="LGBTQ+ Census Guide 2021" />
<img src="/images/censusguide2.png" alt="" title="Why does the 2021 census matter? 1.This census will provide the most accurate estimation of the LGBTQ+ population in the UK so far 2.It can help us understand the demographics of our community 3.Census data can be used to highlight inequalities 4.Census data informs policy 5.Having more data on our community can help LGBTQ+ groups cater to our needs" />
<img src="/images/censusguide3.png" alt="" title="How does it work? Your household will receive a code by letter. This code can be used on the 21st of March to access your census form. One person in the household usually fills in the census for everyone. If you do not wish for the people you live with to see your responses you can request an individual form.The letter with the code will tell you how to request an individual or paper form.Your information will be kept private.All census data is anonymised for 100 years" />
<img src="/images/censusguide4.png" alt="" title="The sex question This is the only mandatory gender or sexuality question. This means that on the online census you won't be able to skip it.The aim of this question is to understand how many men or women there are in the UK. Meaning if you are a trans man you should select male and if you are a trans woman you should select female. It is unknown what guidance will accompany this question. However, even if the guidance states that it is asking about legal sex at no point will anyone check if you have a GRC or ask to see your birth certificate." />
<img src="/images/censusguide5.png" alt="" title="The gender and sex registered at birth question This question will only be asked in England and Wales. It is for people ages 16 and over. It is an optional question meaning it can be skipped on the online form. Select yes if: You are a man who was assigned male at birth You are a woman who was assigned female at birth Select no if: You are a man who was assigned female at birth You are a woman who was assigned male at birth You are not a man or woman If you select no make sure to use the text box to indicate how you identify. This is particularly important if you are non-binary since it is the only opportunity to have your relationship to gender recorded." />
<img src="/images/censusguide6.png" alt="" title="The sexual orientation question This is for people ages 16 and over. It is an optional question meaning it can be skipped on the online form. If you do not feel represented by the options provided please make use of the write in box. You might use this to state that you are: Asexual Aromantic Pansexual Polyamorous Queer Questioning Someone that doesn't identify " /></p>Kirstie Ken English (they/them)The 21st of March 2021 is census day in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This census year is of particular importance to the LGBTQ+ community. Here I provide some information for LGBTQ+ people filling in the census. As a non-binary person, I’m disappointed by the use of a binary sex question. However, that makes the optional text box in the “sex registered at birth” question more important. If your trans and/or non-binary please make use of that box so our community is represented accurately.