Update on plans for the next census (sex question)

[MurrayBlackburnMackenzie]

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

And yes, there will still be people door-knocking to chase people who have not completed (census.gov.uk/jobs/)

Thank you that was my plan, ordering a paper copy then have a f2f chat with the doorknocker explaining why I can't give an honest answer for the sex question.

@haggistramp

So how to bio women answer the sex question if it is framed as gender? If they are not asking about biological sex then I'd have to put other as obviously dont believe in gender woo woo.

Well, I intend to answer the question honestly and truthfully - if the guidance instructs me to answer the sex question with my gender identity, I will put "NONE."

Would it be possible to use Judicial review on this? While we still have Judicial review?

I am SO sick of this shit.

It should be obvious all round that accurate data is needed for health planning, and that it would also be helpful to have some solid idea of the actual size of the trans community, to inform policy.

But no, sod all that for the sake of not upsetting a few fragile/ arrogant/ self-obsessed egos (one assumes that there are trans people out there who do not fall into those categories and would understand why accuracy is important).

Truth matters. Or at least it should,

I was at a meeting several years ago, where recieved an update on potential questions for the next census. 'After consultation ' it had apparently been decided to include the gender question, but make it optional.
Much gutting and eye rolling at this. No-one jumped up to say how great it was.

Ok, that was tutting not gutting obvs.
Gah autocorrect twice wrong!

Two good points made about justification for questions. There has to be an outcome that has some value in future planning of services
It defeats this objective to ask two similar questions.
Also value for money. Unnecessary duplication is wasteful.
However, I suspect most people would answer sex as biology and whatever they feel.like for the gender one. It's only if you didn't know what to put for sex and you looked at the guidance that you would get the gender info.

They can keep both questions just change the guidance for the sex one. Hope they will do. Needs pressure from outside.
Perhaps some MP - Liz Truss maybe - would be interested and could reference the recent GRA decision and guidance on gender for schools as examples of good practice and the way thinking is evolving on this.
I used to enjoy looking at a good age/sex pyramid, do they still exist??

Seems completely out of step with the UN recommendations on Censuses.

www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/stats/publications/2015/ECECES41_EN.pdf

(Control F to jump to section 456, regarding the topic of sex)

It might be time to emulate the suffragettes and suffragists who boycotted the 1911 census. Some women did not complete it, others wrote brilliant messages on their forms. These exist as important records of feminist dissent.

It's totally bonkers. People disagreeing with this should stage a protest by identifying opposite to what they are. Or refusing to answer the question. But I bet they could fine you for that.

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

Butterworth gasp

But what about non-binary people? Won't it be incredibly triggering for them to have to label themselves either male or female? This is rank transphobia. Someone might die!

Anyway presumably the gender identity field is a write-in? If this nonsense goes ahead I am putting my gender identity down as Jedi.

Coming back to this thread as we are participating in this webinar run by WPUK on Sunday evening. Free, but ticketed. Hope to 'see' some Mumsnetters there!

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-womans-place-is-in-conversation-sex-in-the-census-tickets-123528385727