At the doctor's office with DD yesterday

[FromEden]

And the form asked for "gender identity". The options were male, female, male to female transgender, female to male transgender, genderqueer or other not listed (no idea what could be in that category). First time I've seen anything like that.

So at least they reference biological sex, except if you tick genderqueer or other I suppose. Why not have a section for sex and another for gender identity though? Surely a medical office should know that sex actually matters when it comes to healthcare!

But if you are being asked to fill the form in you self, would that many people know the difference between sex and gender ?
I know the medical professionals would, if they are asking the question or clarifying the question then that makes a difference

I guess if you are an intact male who prefers to have everyone refer to yourself as her/she Miss Susie then it would be useful for the records (for that seems to e the way of the world these days) to show that yes, you will be requiring the prostate check call up.

Not quite sure where you would stand with regards to having a chaperone though, and I feel very sorry for the poor receptionist who has to call up Miss Suzie to remind them to come infor their prostate check because of course they don’t need a smear because, oh, um, errr, you know...

It's just so muddled.

Biological sex is imperative in a medical setting - the surgery obviously know this with the male-to-female options etc.

Wanting to show respect for the patient and throwing in genderqueer though? Meaningless.

Have two categories: biological sex, and gender presentation. Job done.

If the form said

Sex - options male or female
Gender identity (if different from sex) - options all the other categories

I think most people would understand that.

OP exactly.

Yep, two boxes with the "I am special" box being optional. The fact that someone has decided to fill it in would be useful to know in dealing with them.

OP, I am not sure what country you are based in.

But in the UK, the NHS seems to go by "gender" instead of actual biology.....

If you haven't read the amazing work of a MNer who goes by Anne Harper-Wright on Medium on the question of sex vs gender in the NHS, please do check out her essays.

The one about records:
medium.com/@anneharperwright/sex-gender-the-nhs-bb86b0c3ebb
Thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3422736-My-NHS-Medical-Record-has-deleted-my-sex-And-added-a-ladybrain

and a similar discussion:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3419746-What-should-your-NHS-Medical-Record-hold-about-you-Sex-or-gender-Identity

"Female-only" spaces in the NHS:
medium.com/@anneharperwright/sex-gender-the-nhs-1e8f4e6363a6
Thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3396859-Weve-been-lied-to-about-Single-SEX-wards-since-2010

I'm in the US. I was just taken aback that it actually said "gender identity" rather than just sex or gender.

My "gender identity" isn't female, I just am one. It's a biological reality. By all means if someone identifies as something different than their biological sex, have a question for that as well as one for their sex which is very relevant in a healthcare setting

My "gender identity" isn't female, I just am one. It's a biological reality. By all means if someone identifies as something different than their biological sex, have a question for that as well as one for their sex which is very relevant in a healthcare setting

Yep. That would seem like the most practical solution. How does it work in the US? Does each practice set their own rules?

Well then logically you tick 'other'. As that is true. And your healthcare providers have no idea if you are male or female. Which worryingly they seem to think is irrelevant.

‘I give it little to no thought’ - id make my own box.

Oh! I quite like that approach:

1. Mandatory: Tell us your biological sex so we can offer you the correct medical support

1. Optional: Tell us your gender identity so we can communicate with you without error, offer you social/psychological support.

If that became the norm I would be extremely happy!

That sounds to me like the most sensible outcome, Curious.

Otherwise, I'd have to tick 'other' 'none'. Because I don't have a 'gender identity'. I am a woman. Gender is imposed upon me. It doesn't exist in my head.

Yes. I'd probably make a point of writing something along those lines on any form that left me thinking "I don't have a bloody gender identity"

I'll add that to scribbling out Gender and writing in Sex at every opportunity!

Was there a box for

"I believe the concept of gender is a repressive ideology that harms both sexes"?

I’d write

Magical being
Witch
Supermodel by day astrophysicist by night
Tadpole
Desktop lamp
Space mist/aurora borealis
The queen of everything
Rather pissed off sock person who hasn’t the patience for all this crap

Tick other then write - I've never been asked my gender identity before, what a wonderfully interesting thought provoking question, let me ponder it and get back to you...

I was asked for DS gender (not sex) on a consent form for a school thing. Worryingly enough it was for a residential trip.

There needs to be two questions, one with sex which is unchanging so M/F and one for gender identity which includes an open box as there are upwards of 70 gender identities and some will write N/A.

This is especially neccessary in health as biological sex has specific health implications and ensures that data is accurate

Including 'gender identity' but as an additional question is likely the best way forward .

But there’s the ‘so what’ question.

Patient - ‘Doctor I’m male but identify as a jellyfish.’
Doctor - ‘So what? I’m still going to have to check your BP and cholesterol’

My local health centre is just as bloody woke. I put a line through gender and wrote sex. I then told the receptionist that there was a silly mistake on the form but I corrected it. 😉😁

My local health centre is just as bloody woke

Maybe they should be encouraged to be inclusive and may not be aware of all the different gender identities. If they are limiting the expression to male/female/non-binary they are discriminating against those who identify as agender, pangender etc etc

Expanding the gender identity question is the only logical way forward for organisations intent on being inclusive.

They can then also have a separate box for sex eg M/F

Oh it gets better. DD was sent a questionnaire after attending A&E, designed for children aged 7 and up. It asked:

Are you a:

boy? girl? non-binary? prefer not to say?

Explaining non-binary to DD (who's actually 6, but can read well) was fun....

The A&E should not be promoting ideology.

Children are boys or girls (m/f)

Some may be being treated for possible gender dysphoria.

Explaining non-binary to DD (who's actually 6, but can read well) was fun....

The A&E are complicit in normalising a regressive ideology to children