Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

Is this the new normal?

32 replies

IDontIdentifyAsAWomanIAmAWoman · 11/08/2018 16:44

I haven’t posted on this board before but have read a fair few threads. I have been using the ovia fertility app - for those who haven’t used it before, it gives you the option to answer various questions and you can then see as a percentage what the responses from other users are to the same question.
One of the questions I was given asked
‘What is your gender?’
The only options given as possible answers were:
‘I identify as female’ or ‘I identify as male’.
This really concerned me, that an app supposedly designed for women to track their menstrual cycle and fertility, was prepared to alienate us in this way.
I emailed them and their response was that they aimed to be as ‘inclusive as possible to all women in our diverse user base’.
Clearly they are less concerned about women than about being ‘inclusive’. I reminded them that conception and menstruation are down to sex not gender - they thanked me for my feedback!

OP posts:
NotTerfNorCis · 11/08/2018 17:40

Yes as other people have said it will be used by females only so there's no point finding out if a fraction of those females 'identify as male'.

Ereshkigal · 11/08/2018 17:38

Didn't think that one through, did you, wokesters?

Ereshkigal · 11/08/2018 17:38

The questions are optional but I'm assuming they use it to generate data pertaining to fertility and pregnancy.

Given that no MTF trans person has any need to use the Ovia app for their own fertility and pregnancy it's a bizarrely framed question.

Also what about the non binaries? Sad face.

Original poster
IDontIdentifyAsAWomanIAmAWoman · 11/08/2018 17:16

The questions are optional but I'm assuming they use it to generate data pertaining to fertility and pregnancy.

I don't mind them asking what they like seeing as the app can still be used without having to divulge any of this information.
My issue is that the option to answer 'I am a woman' doesn't exist. As my username says I don't identify as a woman, I am a woman.
It's these small, insidious changes that concern me.

OP posts:
stillathing · 11/08/2018 16:59

I would ask them why they need to know your gender identity. I can't see how gender identity affects fertility at all. It is biological sex, age, things like pcos that do. Are they are gathering unnecessary data? Under gdpr they need to be able to tell you why they ask for data and what they do with it.

loopsdefruit · 11/08/2018 16:58

Gonna take a guess that it assumed your sex based on the use of the app, does it 'talk' to you, using pronouns? Or is this purely information gathering for the developers? They're the only reasons I can for asking you

Fallennova · 11/08/2018 16:49

For a fertility app, I would have thought it had to be a question of sex not gender so I agree completely with you.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.