Is this the new normal?

[IDontIdentifyAsAWomanIAmAWoman]

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!

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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'.

Agree that surely a fertility tracker app presumes female sex - a penis bearer would have no need for such a service.

So fair enough they are gathering data on gender identity of users - then they need to provide ‘other’ and ‘none’ options as well, surely.

I’d reply again and enquire why they need to know the gender identity of users? Is there a GDPR section to cite that they must be able to explain their need for/use of such information?

If an app is talking ‘to’ you in a bot-style format, it doesn’t need to use gendered (third person) pronouns, does it.

It is a disturbing trend. I was asked in a workplace survey if I identified as male or female. Well I identify as female because I AM female. Not to do so would make as much sense as identifying as a cat or a rock. Saying 'female' is an identity implies it is culturally rather than biologically defined, and that is not a feminist belief.

I was asked this at a local museum this week. I crossed it out and said I am a woman because of biology not because of some social construct or feeling in the 'other' section.

Nice one glen

I crossed it out and said I am a woman because of biology not because of some social construct or feeling in the 'other' section.

I do the same did wonder if I’d gone a bit far when I crossed out gender and wrote ‘sex’ on a survey a 15 year old presented me for their school project on pets though.

Isn't it a funny old world. Society is too embarrassed to read "sex" on a form but happy enough to talk about penises all the live-long day!

My new patient registration form for my GP surgery asked what I identified as.

Male/Female/Other.

Nothing could go wrong with that could it.

It’s so frustrating.

What I find the hardest isn’t the people who know it’s all bollocks but are enjoying the hurt the current storm is causing but rather the stupid people who are too lazy or thick to think it through and think they’re fantastic because they’re being trans allies and using gender when they mean sex.

Some people who can't have periods like to fantasise that they do, and they use apps like this so they can track their pretend periods.

Kyanite but would/do these menstruation fantasists object to being assumed to be female? I’m assuming you’re meaning transwomen here, therefore people unlikely to ‘identify as male’. Amenorrhoeic women are, well, women, anyway.

Why oh why are all developers being so inclusive of 0.3% of the population? Why do they really care about the really small number of ftm using the app compared the women as a whole that they risk alienating people who are happy in their bodies

It does seem to be becoming more common. I completed a job application and changed gender to sex on the form. I didn't get an interview but it seemed like it needed to be done. I'm would imagine in a truly inclusive world of equality they wouldn't actually ask at all

Why is gender even relevant to menstruation? Do they also ask your political leanings? Your views on seaworld or trump or the housing crisis? Do they ask your sexual orientation? Or whether you’re an Irish traveller? How is gender relevant??!

30 years ago we'd scrawl the word SEX across pages of school books for giggles. In 2018 I find myself correcting forms and gnashing teeth. I recently had one where my ONLY option was "woman including transwomen". Digital form so I couldn't cross it out - so I was cross instead.

Bineverywhere I'm assuming the other option was Man (+/- trans man) and frankly I'd choose that option rather than woman +/- man. Screw with their statistics. And who knows it might get you extra points on your job application?

Didn't think that one through, did you, wokesters?
That was hilarious Eresh

‘I identify as female’ or ‘I identify as male’

AND

‘Incusive as possible to all women in our diverse user base’.

So, let’s break this down as if we are playing by TRA rules:

Identify as female and biologically female = woman using the app, fine.
Identify as male and biologically male = man who doesn’t need the app
Identify as female and biologically male = woman who doesn’t need the app
Identify as male but biologically female = MAN who needs the app.

So being “fully inclusive of all women” they are in fact excluding trans men surely?

Excellent point, Bears!