Sex in the Census; joint statement

Agree. They could have had a sex box and a tick this box if your gender identity doesnt match your sex box. Anyone wanting accurate sex data could then ignore responses where that box is ticked because the sex data is likely to be unreliable. Given that it's anonymous it seems bizarre not to just ask for your sex at birth though.

This is great to hear and also to see those organisations openly uniting too.

And then when only .o1% of the population fill in the gender question
Problem is, I wouldn't be surprised if lots of people fill in the gender question. I can imagine people who have never really thought about this just shrugging their shoulders and saying their gender identity does match their birth sex... the very fact that the question is phrased to give that option might suggest to many people that they are 'meant' to fill it in (it could just say tick this box if your gender identity does not match your birth sex).

Just because people aren’t telling us what is going upon doesn’t mean things aren’t going on; nobody is throwing in the towel.

Glad there's join action!

But will wait to see what they suggest.

It is obvious from the mumsnet threads that we have varying opinions.

Not sure why this join action is being aimed at those filling in the Census as if we weren't capable of thinking for ourselves.

Surely it would be much better if their was join action against those imposing this on us.

Sounds a bit back to front - or basically throwing in the towel.

Quite honestly if it is now too late to change should just fill in the Sex question honestly. Ignore the gender question. And then when only .o1% of the population fill in the gender question subtract that number from the number of those who say they are of the female sex! (To ensure statistical accuracy!!)

Excellent. Will make sure DH and I have a good look at the website before completing the census. This is one area of life we actually agree on!

MC are delighted to be part of this collective statement, and in such good company. We will continue to support this campaign because sex matters.... #SexNotGender #Census2021

Good to see women working together on this! Thanks for telling us about it. I will definitely be taking part in protesting about this, but like a PP want to be a good citizen too.

I see this as not just about objecting to the sex question but a way for us to be counted. I know the data takes a while to be released but hope when it does it will show we are a sizeable proportion of the population that can't be ignored.

Great news

This is fantastic! I'm looking forward to hearing more about the planned action. It'll be great to have a practical way of objecting. I saw that Maya Forstater was linking to a brochure by the ONS that was even more open to people answering the census questions however they fancied than the guidance but the ONS seems to have removed it from their website now.

It's a joy isn't it? Just what we could do with after the Maternity Bill forgetting the word 'woman', and Brighton & Hove NHS dropping the word 'mother' and 'breastfeeding' down the back of the sofa, and the 50:50 campaign deciding that non-women are better at representing women than well anyone really and and and...

Thank you to all the women who got together to make this happen. I await my instructions!

I love this-so many women coming together with a common cause.

Fantastic news.

Excellent. I wait with baited breath to see where this goes.

This is good to see. I imagine FPFW might be keeping their powder dry as they're seeking a legal opinion on the census.

But they seem to be supportive of the proposed action judging by RTs so that's heartening.

twitter.com/fairplaywomen/status/1361778247705452546

I think FPFW are supporting it - it's on their page. A petticoat army and a half!

Placemarking. Shamelessly.

Fantastic thank you. I did say to DH yesterday that at the moment im going to refuse to participate in the census.

Thank you OP. I noted that FPFW are not one of the organisations listed on that site.

Apologies for missing out the actual participant organisations behind the joint statement.

I look forward to the strategy as I was wondering what sort of fine or other legal penalty this might attract. I'm relieved there's a probable workaround that will allow me to be a good citizen and yet not deviate from my personal beliefs. (The nearest I'll ever approach to channeling Margaret Clitherow in words if nothing else.)

"I know of no offence whereof I should confess myself guilty. Having made no offence, I need no trial."

Thanks OP. I look forward to whatever it is.