Survey at work using the term cis woman

[SuzanneRogers]

So I filled all the survey, very happy at work, public secror.
Note that this survey is outsourced by another survey organisation.

Then I come to the last bit please describe your role in the organisation, did that, and then how would you describe your sex or gender?

( Can’t remember exactly how the question was phrased )but the only option for women was “cis woman.”

Quite cross about this and I’m not sure how to best articulate this to my managers who, to be fair never use this term and will not have had any input to designing the survey. Any input welcome.

No issue with transgender women have worked with them before, but the fact they’re transgender does not make me a cis woman

Is there an option for "other"
I always use that if asked about gender and say "I have no gender but my sex is female "

Can you choose other or prefer not to say? If you don't identify with the options given that seems the best response

Yes, I think that’s what I’m going to do. Makes me sound quite mysterious.

Thanks both

sensible advice.

Not really just means you don't identify with their options

Refusing to do the survey is my Go To response.

The trouble with a lot of people surveys in public sector is that Directors are judged by response rates (as is the Department) more than the actual responses. A low engagement rating actually means something amd Departments should be "held to avcount", hence the weekly reminders to Have Your Say.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/civil-service-people-survey

Just tell them you haven’t done it as there wasn’t a box for your gender as a woman

Yes- you’re right.

If you're not trans then you're cis. I honestly don't even know what you think it means?!

Oh, I see, so I could hijack it

I’m not cis

I’m a woman.

Totally annoys me too - I am happy for anyone to be trans or to use any prefix or pronoun that they wish.

But mine is and will always be ‘women’ or ‘female’. No need to have ‘cis’ attached to it - it is perfectly ok as it is.

I respect everyone’s right to use the gender and pronouns that they wish - but it works both ways… I don’t push my ideas / labels / titles on your gender identity - so don’t push your ‘cis’ label onto me.

Same here.

Cross the cis out and put the WOMAN in capitals.

No. Why add cis. She's a woman.

I would do, but it’s online

There really are bigger hills to die on.

I was going to say the same ( menopausal and belligerent ) but presume it’s online ?

Complain. But if you don't feel able to do this yourself see if there is a SEEN network you can join and they will do this for you.

It's like complaining about being asked to identify your race and foaming at the mouth because "just because she's a black woman doesn't mean I'm a white woman". It's ludicrous.

That’s an interesting point about the black-and-white thing. I don’t think anyone’s minded putting white have they? Thank you that’s made me think a bit

I wouldn't know what that meant, ignorant perhaps. Can you leave it blank?

I suppose it all boils down to identity and what we feel like describing ourselves as.

Identity is a powerful thing hence I wouldn’t mind ever there being a transgender “box” but also the same respect needs to go the other way I suppose.

I'm in the civil service and I get loads of these surveys and ALWAYS push back on it.
Usually I frame it in a way that demonstrates I'm not happy about the sex/gender conflation (and bullshit) but also phrase it as it means their survey won't give them any accurate or usable data. I have also said that phrasing things in this way might mean they miss out on important data relating to either sex and /or gender and this could result in some groups not having their needs / issues addressed.
I've never had any negative response and tend to get replies thanking me for feedback and acknowledging that I was not happy with the question and they would look at phrasing in future questionnaires.