Letter to National Statistician asking for clarity on definition of sex for next Census

[stumbledin]

In line with the code of practice’s requirement for “transparent judgements about definitions and methods” it is necessary for ONS to come to a clear view of what definition it wishes respondents to
use. The Panel is expecting an opportunity to comment onthe guidance in the light of that view, both the words of the guidance and the form in which it will appear both online and on paper. For example, there is a distinction between what will be on the face of the online form and what will require a respondent to click through to obtain further information.

Whatever ONS’s view of the aim of the sex question, and whatever the wording of the guidance, the Panel expects to be given a clear assessment of any possible bias or distortive effects, both directly on the question itself, and also on other aspects of the methodology of the census, such as approaches to linkage, undercount and imputation, and future uses of the ce

Professor Sir Bernard Silverman FRSChair of Methodological Assurance Review Panel,UK Statistics Agency mbmpolicy.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/letter-from-sir-bernard-silverman-to-sir-ian-diamond.pdf

The letter refers to two other letters:
mbmpolicy.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/letter-to-sir-bernard-silverman-221020.pdf
www.parliament.scot/S5_European/General%20Documents/CTEEA_2019.12.18_Sullivan.pdf

Sorry should have credited MurrayBlackburnMackenzie with instigating this twitter.com/mbmpolicy/status/1323242061018079232

I really hope that the census removes the right to answer whatever you would like it to be in the 'sex' box - if trans members of the population can do that, why can't everyone?

As I put on another thread, this is a perfect opportunity to get meaningful data on the trans population in this country which can surely only be a good thing in terms of provisions for that group.

It is no good the trans population lamenting the lack of services specifically for them, if they refuse to be counted to allow planning for those services.

And also, I thought we were legally bound to answer accurately to the best of our knowledge? Everyone with a trans identity KNOWS what sex they are, if they deliberately answer the sex question incorrectly, are they not commiting an offence? And if not, why not?

Great news OP.

👏👏👏👏for MurrayBlackburnMackenzie's brilliant letter :

❤️🌸 💐💐💐to the signatories:
Nick Allum, Professor of Research Methodology, University of Essex
Tarani Chandola, Professor of Medical Sociology, University of Manchester
Amanda Gosling, Senior Lecturer in Economics, University of Kent
Lucy Hunter Blackburn, former Deputy Director, Scottish Government, and doctoral
candidate, University of Edinburgh
Jane Clare Jones, philosopher, author of ‘The Political Erasure of Sex: Sex and the Census’
Lisa Mackenzie, policy analyst, author of ‘The Political Erasure of Sex: Sex and the Census’
Colin Mills, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Oxford
Kath Murray, Research Fellow in Criminology, University of Edinburgh
Lindsay Paterson, FBA, Professor of Education Policy, University of Edinburgh
Alice Sullivan, Professor of Sociology, Director 1970 British Cohort Study, UCL
Selina Todd, Professor of Modern History, St Hilda’s College, University of Oxford

It rather makes a question on sex pointless if it is how you 'identify' at the moment of putting pen to paper.

The review of ONS actions, by Office for Statistics Regulation, findings include:

The assessment team thinks it essential for ONS
to consider the concerns raised by users during
its further testing and research on the guidance
on the sex question, and consider the impact of
data quality on the analysis of small sub-groups
of the population.

offices must ensure their actions
and decisions are visibly taken
with the honesty, integrity and
independence necessary to
deliver data and statistics that are
of high quality and serve the
public good.

Census offices
should be open and transparent
on their decision-making
processes and in their
decisions on Census questions
and guidance, particularly in
relation to any areas of
contention.

The ONS is a Stonewall Diversity Champion.

www.stonewall.org.uk/diversity-champions-members

indeed. does the ONS, as a Stonewall champion, have, as the regulator puts it: the "independence necessary to deliver data and statistics".?

and this is worrying:

"In December 2019, 80 of the UK’s leading quantitative social scientists (including six of us signing this letter) wrote to the three UK census authorities to express concern about the potential impact of this guidance on the quality of data collected on sex, particularly for some subgroups of the population. It took almost six months for us to be granted a meeting with ONS to discuss our concerns, which eventually took place on 24 June this year at a large ‘roundtable’ event where most of the attendees represented a particular political perspective on gender identity rather than having been selected for their expertise on data
collection and analysis." (from the Murray letter)