HR database sex and gender

Because transsexual is specific to transsexuals and transgender covers anyone who wants to record a transgender identity including transsexuals. If someone who is transsexual objects to the term transgender they can write it on the form.

But then why not transexual rather than transgender. Aren’t we all under the umbrella now?

So maybe, (1) sex and (2) are you transgender? If so, what is your gender identity?

What is the purpose of collecting all this info? Do they also ask for religion and race. Is this what they will use for job applicants?
Basically they just need the protected characteristics sex M/F and separately transgender M/F/other at a push.
Confusing sex and gender doesn't help minorities but does disadvantage those people who do not have a gender. All forms you fill in should be clear, if sex and gender mean the same then use sex because that is the clearest term for the vast majority of people and also applies to the vast majority.

Why not sex: choose male or female and "gender identity (if relevant)": please specify or leave blank if not relevant.

You can say to HR that everyone knows what sex is and that if someone is transgender they will know what gender identity is (ie they wanted to be regarded as something other than the sex they are)

"From HR point of view being seen to be inclusive is what it is about, but what are the pitfalls?"
Why is being seen to be inclusive what it is about? Serious question. And what is meant by inclusive here?

I expect HR to be non-discriminatory. That is not the same as inclusive. Inclusive seems to me to increasingly mean 'pandering to those who shout the loudest'. Being non-discriminatory means not favouring one set of people to the detriment of another set of people. Applying employment law fairly.

I think your HR department needs to have a look at itself if they think being 'inclusive' (such a wooly term) is what it is about.

But do they understand what sex and gender are any better?

The gender pay gap should be a sex pay gap but that phrase has connotations of payment for sex.. so we are left with this unclear meaning and male bodied people can now be includes in the female bodied section when comparing the pay of one group with another which makes the comparison meaningless because females are not paid less because they were skirts and heels, they are paid less because of their biology.

Definately needs a "none" box

"Other " could mean so many things and I would refuse to identify define myself against an ideology I dont believe in.

If you ask gender surely it should be masculine or feminine or other cos otherwise the sex question is irrelevant if man/woman/male/female is an identity not biological reality.

Why would they need to know gender - are they also going to ask for height and eye colour?

None needs to be added to the answers for the second q. I don’t ‘have’ a gender only a sex and the gender projected upon it (which would vary according to time, culture, religion etc)

Maybe they just need sex and a photo.

the problem with that construction is that gender is not a choice, but rather a set of assumptions/expectations/stereotypes that is imposed on a sex. It is time and space specific. What you want to know about is their gender identity, which is (or should be) a useful shorthand for those who consider themselves transgender to explain their identity. So perhaps consider two questions: sex: with the options male or female and gender identity: with the options n/a or specify?

They need your sex - gender is no use unless
the two don’t match - then HR may expect the person in question to want certain things. How can the answer the gender pay gap questions?

Would you also have an option for those of us who reject gender on principle & just want to be noted by sex? Or would that fit into the ‘other’ free text box?