To complain about “gender identity” question on a registration form

I just reread all the comments on the first page and saw none that suggested that, one that said gender identity doesn't exist (that comment didn't qualify whether it meant it exists as a concept rather than a concrete, biological feature, perhaps it meant it doesn't exist at all!); one or two comments were rude and dismissive, certainly, but not claiming transgender people don't exist.

What about the people who have never followed a religion? Or used to follow one but don’t anymore?

same concept here.

I would complain because it’s worded in a way that obliges every form-filler to nod along with nonsense about being ‘assigned’ male or female as if someone was pulling sticky labels with M and F out of a lucky dip bag. However, you probably will be ignored and they’ll no doubt view it as principled if they do. Still, the more of us chip away at this nonsense, the better.

Isn't that up to George to decide? You said in your post that you don't mind what pronouns people use for you, so that could be the information you provide.

No it's not a solution. The problem is that people are so afraid to offend that they don't think of the consequences for going along with things like this.

So women at work would put their pronouns as "she" and as a result might be subject to misogynistic behaviour. Granted a lot of first names (& some last names) make one's sex obvious and so they might get this in any case.

But I think that it's important that someone states "this is a policy that doesn't apply to me therefore I will not be complying with it". If someone wants to be called George and wants to be addressed as she and feels that's best achieved by putting it in their email signature that's fine. But if someone is called George and doesn't want people to know before they meet them that in this case George is a woman then she should be entitled to keep that to herself.

I think if you don't know then you don't have one. An identity is an active thing so you can't have one without knowing. I don't really know what it is except a feeling based on gendered stereotypes, which I entirely reject. I know that our bodies & experience are shaped by the reality of sex. That is not an'identity'. Even if I was unconscious I would still have a sex.

We have been waiting a very long time for this to be defined, who knows today may be the day.

There are 5 posts on the first page of this thread that do dispute that transgender is a real thing and that people should have the right to identify as such.

Fair enough. I argue against it as a terrifyingly destructive ideology at the heart of horrific abuse, mainly of women, in the UK still, but even more so in many other countries where we have far fewer hard-won freedoms. I understand individuals might feel that gender is an essential part of their biological make up or an intrinsic part of their identity, but I hope they're educated or willing to educate themselves in the societal and political oppression of which this belief is a mainstay and I hope they can understand it's not ok to push this belief on others.

Oh I am so wounded that you think I am rude, I see myself as not rude you are denying my existence as a non rude person, waah.

Someone can of course be transgender, therefore, if they once identified with one gender and now identify with the other.

No one I've noticed commenting here or met in real life (but unfortunately, horrifically, frightening bigots like Trump and his supporters or people with religious views requiring rigid gender conformity, among others do) disputes such people exist and have every right to identify as they with.

How can someone be transgender if, as some here are saying, gender identity doesn't exist?

How can someone be Christian if, as some here are saying, God doesn't exist?

(Obviously the flesh and blood people who are trans "exist" - the point is that some here are saying they're not actually transgender.)

Obviously the flesh and blood people who are Christian "exist" - the point is that some here are saying they are not actually Christian.

Gender Ideology is a faith, a belief, I do not believe in it, I do not adhere to it and I won't partake in it. Other people can and clearly do but they are not at liberty to coerce me into doing so no more than anyone of whatever religious faith can coerce others into believing, adhering to and partaking in that faith.

I don't find the concept of gender applies meaningfully to me personally, as I don't feel like a man or a woman, but I accept that it is different for other people and I am not going to argue against it for them.

I'd love to know what a 'gender identity' even is.

I'd need to know what it is before I can say whether I have one or not.

Gender identity exists as an idea, so some people believe in or use that idea, others don't.

I'm not disputing it exists as a concept, but I don't think it's a useful concept as it is associated with damaging stereotypes and with the belief that we have to identify with set traits or behaviours — these are ideas many feminists in particular have fought to dismantle, in order to allow anyone and everyone to express themselves however they wish or feel the need to. I don't believe in assigning set gender roles or identities; I believe they're social constructs which have caused enormous harm to everyone. This is nowadays called being gender critical: being critical of the notion of gender as an existing "essence" or quality of a person, rather than gender as an idea assigned to (and/or adopted by) a person.

I hope you're not this rude irl.

No. I am female (sex) but I don't have a gender identity.

Yes, you've embarrassed yourself. Anti-trans people are very vocal on mumsnet but they don't represent the majority. The vast majority of people working for a charity won't be anti-trans and they will think you are just a twit.

The thing is if say I was identified at birth was female but if I like dressing as a man ( or as a stereotypical male ) and conforming to male stereotypes like having short hair and/or minimising my breast size and/or taking hormones to lower my voice and increase body hair but still see myself as a woman then I am a gender non conforming woman - (which is a thing now I am told ). I would.have to tick no to that question. That would make the data meaningless as who the hell cares if I spend time and energy looking or presenting like a man. I am still female and identify as a woman yet my answer would suggest that I am trans .

This is an example of why these questions are terrible . They do not give you any meaningful or useful information because there is no commonly understood definition of the terms used . I trained and worked in market research for years and object strongly to questions that are not written to be as clearly understood as possible ..

Unless the survey is about trans and gender identity or collecting information related to this there is absolutely no need to ask this question. If the questionnaire is a health one then asking about sex is all that is needed as that can make a difference to health care needs.

If you absolutely want to ask about gender ask

What sex are you?
Male
Female
Intersex
Other
Prefer not to say

What gender do you identify with?
Male
Female
Neither male nor female/ Non binary
Prefer not to say

The latter question is pretty meaningless in terms.of how useful it is but it is at least clear

So just making spurious claims you can't back up then, okay par for the course.

You can put "pronouns: any" or "don't mind", or something like that.

I was criticised at work for not supporting others because I didn't post my pronouns in my email signature.

My response was that I fully support my colleagues and will address them as they wish as that's polite. But for myself I don't care if someone addresses me as he or she because it shouldn't matter if I'm male or female because if it did matter that would be discriminatory.

Confused the batshit out of them.

Of course, to remain inclusive, virtuous, and non-bigoted etc. the question should be "does your racial identity match that which was assigned to you at birth?"

Because you want to know something. I'm not that invested.

No, you made the assertion you should be easily able to reference it and provide said evidence to back up your claim, why should I look on your behalf?