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Original poster

Update on plans for the next census (sex question)

38 replies

MurrayBlackburnMackenzie · 24/09/2020 14:58

We know there are occasional posts on FWR asking about where things are with plans for the next UK census.

We've just published this blog, which hopefully explains where we are.

In brief:

The census in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will take place on 21 March 2021. It has been postponed until 2022 in Scotland.

The longstanding, compulsory sex question will remain, with respondents able to choose 'male' or 'female'.

There will be a new, voluntary gender identity question in England, Wales and Scotland.

Right now the census authorities intend to carry guidance to accompany the sex question that instructs respondents to answer based on their gender identity (not their sex) and it's this which leading social scientists are concerned about.

murrayblackburnmackenzie.org/2020/09/24/back-under-the-radar-a-review-of-plans-for-the-census/

Happy to answer any questions anyone has!

Kath, Lucy and Lisa

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 24/09/2020 18:17

Thanks for your work on this, OP.

It's baffling, isn't it? What is the point of gathering mass data if one of the basic demographic metrics is knowingly made unreliable?

wellbehavedwomen · 24/09/2020 16:09

They're recording gender identity twice, and sex not at all?

Well, it's persistent, consistent, and insistent, I'll give them that.

merrymouse · 24/09/2020 16:06

Why put the gender identity question in if there is also a question about sex based on gender identity - what is this supposed to tell them?

TheElementsOfMedical · 24/09/2020 16:02

I know next years census will generally be online but do you know if there will still be door knockers visiting people who have not filled it in?

I think I read on an earlier thread that we have the option of requesting paper forms? Because that's what I intend to do, so I can add my own amendments where necessary.

YoBeaches · 24/09/2020 15:56

So stonewall and all the other Gender ID groups who were consulted (behind closed doors) actually want to hide the number of trans folk in the UK? They don't want it recorded, known, turned into stats?

Information that could help support the cause? That could show the magnitude of trans presence, the infraction of their sub standard treatment and the amplifiable social challenges we face.

Why, tell me why THEY don't want this information known. Speaks volumes.

highame · 24/09/2020 15:50

Why on earth can't they just have the gender question as an additional. The health requirements for men and women will be skewed, especially as Stonewall's stats on gender keep multiplying.

What about all those who are non-binary etc. what will the census decide for their healthcare needs?

Life used to be so easy

GoodyWoolf · 24/09/2020 15:49

This is infuriating. How is it possible for the people who run the census to not understand the implications of this!

Melroses · 24/09/2020 15:36

How can we fill this in? My sex is not an identity.

ThinEndoftheWedge · 24/09/2020 15:34

So two gender identity questions and no sex questions.

Idiots.

Thingybob · 24/09/2020 15:16

I know next years census will generally be online but do you know if there will still be door knockers visiting people who have not filled it in?

ahagwearsapointybonnet · 24/09/2020 15:15

That's completely bonkers. What's wrong with the perfectly obvious, common-sense approach of asking for bio sex (in whatever way they want to word it to be tactful, as long as it's clear that it does mean biological sex rather than legal or gender identity, and preferably not using "assigned at birth" cos that's nonsense) and a separate question or two asking whether they identify as something different and if so, what? (It would also be an option to ask whether they have a GRC, if data on that would be useful and if that's allowed).

niceberg · 24/09/2020 15:09

This is a joke. Ffs.

Kit19 · 24/09/2020 15:06

so basically they're not recording sex but gender identity and the having another question on gender identity as well

ffs

its actually important for things like planning health care that we have accurate data. THat guidance is ridiculous!