Am I right to cross out "gender" on my child's school form and change it to "sex?"

[PerverseConverse]

I have a form for my child's new school which asks me my child's gender. I feel it should say "sex" seeing as gender is a social construct. Would I be wrong to cross out gender and write sex?

[GladAllOver]

Certainly not. Do it and suggest other parents do the same.

[Emerencealwayshopeful]

I do that on most forms. I figure one day someone will ask why.

[BirdsInTheAttic]

I've don the same thing

[BirdsInTheAttic]

*done

[tiredandweary]

Do it - every. single. time.

[Knicknackpaddyflak]

Absolutely do it. And ask why they want data on who likes pink and nurturing, and who likes blue and football? What is this data going to support exactly?

[ErrolTheDragon]

I had a form from work re health insurance which used 'gender', but I couldn't fill it in electronically so I sent an email with the relevant info, using 'sex' instead.

I doubt if anyone noticed but no way was I typing 'gender'.

[LastOneDancing]

I desperately wanted to do this, but didn't want yo be 'that' parent.

Radio 4 has pissed me off this week - a Dr talking about that heart age quiz used 'gender' instead of sex in a medical context where biological sex was very much a factor; then something else in a news report where again it was clearly bolilogical sex they were referring to.

Sex is not a dirty word FFS.

[LastOneDancing]

'boililogical'?!

You know what I mean..

[Bluntness100]

They don't want to know the sex of your child they wish to know the gender. That is the question.

Are you refusing to tell them? So are electing to answer a different question?

[ErrolTheDragon]

They don't want to know the sex of your child they wish to know the gender. That is the question.

Most of these forms are, idiotically, using gender as a euphemism for sex.

[Bluntness100]

The question is the right one though, they don't wish to know sex. They wish to know which gender the child identifies with.

[Noqont]

Hell yes. I would change it.

[Oceanbliss]

Yes you should I don't identify with gender roles. I identify as a person. Maybe write person next to gender.

[Bluntness100]

Why? Why would you change it? Do you not believe children can identify as a different gender to their sex? Do you feel the school should only go with the sex of the child? That any child who does not identify as the same gender as their sex should be ignored ?

[ErrolTheDragon]

The question is the right one though, they don't wish to know sex. They wish to know which gender the child identifies with.

I can't remotely imagine they really want to know gender and not sex. They might conceivably want to know 'gender' if it's not congruent with sex.

[AndYetItMoves]

I did that this morning. I always do it if I can.

[LaContessaDiPlump]

Interestingly, my children's school has asked us to circle boy or girl. I think I shall circle boy and add 'male' as a helpful extra.

[Bluntness100]

Why would they not wish to know gender? It's absolutely the right question. If a child born Male identifies as female, the school should know that and treat them as female.

Why is there an objection to that?

[AndYetItMoves]

And you think this is common enough for it t be standardised on a form sent to every pupil in the school?

[LaContessaDiPlump]

I also crossed out the options for Mrs/Ms/Miss and wrote Dr, because I'm an arsehole I crossed out Mr for DH and wrote in Dr for him too, don't worry! Equal ops and all that....

[Bluntness100]

Honestly, if I was the one administering the forms and someone crossed out gender I'd think one of two thingss,

Now I have to call them and ask what gender the child identifies with.
They are an idiot and don't understand why I have asked gender.

If the school had asked sex it would be very problematic. Anyone who identified differently to their sex would need to write additional details.

It's not complex. Gender is what schools should be focusing on. Not sex.

[Eminybob]

I think that if a male child identical as a girl, there needs to be more of a discussion with the teacher than just ticking the female box on a form.

The school may need to know biological sex for safeguarding/health reasons.

[Bluntness100]

And you think this is common enough for it t be standardised on a form sent to every pupil in the school?

It's irrelevant how common it is. As long as the school has gender th y always have the right answer.

[Eminybob]

*identifies