ONS reversed decision to record census by sex

[purpleboy]

mobile.twitter.com/fairplaywomen/status/1359875526261882887?s=19

The ons has reversed its decision to record the census next month by sex.

Time for a mass campaign? Shall we all ID as men?

Might make them take notice, especially if they hear in advance?

There seems to be no joined up thinking at all on this. I recently applied to be part of the 2 vaccine trial group. There was a question on my sex and immediately after a question asking if I identify as the same as my sex (or something like that).

The passport thing is ridiculous, not everyone has a passport but everyone should have a birth certficiate and knows their sex at birth.

Does anyone have experience of what happens if you don't complete the census?

@2021vision

I didn’t complete the last two census - nothing happened.

Deja vu.

I've been onto the website ons.gov.uk and looked at the document 'Question and questionnaire development overview for Census 2021', within it section 5: paper questionnaire design, it states:

Some people will need, or prefer, to respond to the census using a paper questionnaire. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) will provide paper forms to any respondent who asks for them through our dedicated contact centre.

So they have to plan for paper copies, they just want everyone to do online in preference.

www.ons.gov.uk/census/censustransformationprogramme/questiondevelopment/questionandquestionnairedevelopmentoverviewforcensus2021#paper-questionnaire-design

ONS have released the final guidance on the Sex question in the census today.

Link here

Haven't read through it all yet, but below is the guidance it looks like they are planning to use. They specifically mention GRC as a 'legal document' you can use to classify your sex, as well as passport (which doesn't require GRC to change).

What is your sex?

Why we ask this question
Your answer is key to understanding trends in the population. It also helps your local community by allowing charities, organisations, and local and central government to understand what services people might need.

This information will be used for equality monitoring between groups of people of different sexes in your local area. Your answer also helps public bodies to identify discrimination or social exclusion based on sex, and work to stop it from happening.

The sex question has been asked since 1801.

This question is vital for understanding population growth and equality monitoring. Please select either “Female” or “Male”.

If you are considering how to answer, use the sex recorded on one of your legal documents such as a birth certificate, Gender Recognition Certificate, or passport.

If you are aged 16 years or over, there is a later voluntary question on gender identity. This asks if the gender you identify with is different from your sex registered at birth. If it is different, you can then record your gender identity.

Thanks for the update.

But in fact their guidance contradicts their statement

The sex question has been asked since 1801. This question is vital for understanding population growth and equality monitoring.

But if people can enter a sex that is different to the one entered on their birth certificate we wont get accurate information.

In fact you would think trans activists would want to have the sex question linked to sex on birth certificate because when compared to the later question on gender it would be much easier to show (if it is true) that many people reject their birth sex.

So it seems that yet again this is much more about TW saying I am a real woman so I can tick the box for female at birth.

And of course they could be worried that the opportunity to show number of those who trans is not really of any signifigance. But we have all been bullied into believing they are more important than anyone.

(I was shocked to read on the thread about "chestfeeding" that in fact trans maternity users will get *additional" support including visits at home etc., that ordinary, non special ordinary women will not be entitled to FFS )

The problem with this article is under

"Why does accurate data collection on sex matter?"

With regards to trans people this is simply not true. They represent less than 1% of the population and the gender diversity between trans men and trans women means that any influence is probably about 0.02%.

In the 2011 census, according to the ONS, around 6.1% of people were comepletly missed by the census. So what is having the greater impact? 0.02% or 6.1% ?

The document on the methodology used to sex question and guidance is here

I am working my way through it in detail, but two sections seem particularly useful. First, section 3.2 on "Accuracy and reliability", which includes a detailed explanation of how the decisions on the wording were reached. The evaluation criteria were:

What sex concept will:

maximise Census responses from the trans population / the csgender population?
maximise sex question responses from the trans population / the csgender population?
ensure any perceived invasion of privacy is justified by the data need?

"Annex B: Publications and meetings relating to sex and gender identity" has information on stakeholder engagement. Looks like it includes a wide range of organisation, but I note that they met with Stonewall more than once...

Their aim to maximise response by not offending people seems to have backfired somewhat!

Their evaluation of the definition based on sex recorded on legal/official documents (which is they one they are using) states:

Trans people without a GRC or another official document would be less likely to respond to census.

Seen as factual, reducing negative reaction across groups, including non-binary people, more than birth certificate as some legal/official documents easier to change

No evidence that this would lead to reposting of the guidance on other forums

maximise Census responses from the trans population / the csgender population?
maximise sex question responses from the trans population / the csgender population?

I'd be interested in their rationale and evidence for that.

Also their choice of terminology in those statements:

• it promotes a political ideology that the vast majority of actual stakeholders, ie. the population being surveyed, would either not recognise or would disagree with.

• is in direct contravention of the Government mandate against political indoctrination in schools so, presumably, should also be beyond the pale where adults are concerned.

Ideological capture leading to political indoctrination courtesy of ONS

'target concept of sex'

Sex is a concept not a fact.

There you have it.

'the response options "Male" and "Female" should be listed in alphabetical order'

This made me laugh

Muppets

@NiceGerbil I know right, of all the things to focus on!

Just the use of the phrase c*s is enough to illustrate what is really going on here.

Is it any wonder that what might have been perceived as a small women for natal woman has been rapidly rebutted. (Not help by the talking about a set back for the trans community when they could have talked about a victory for accuracy.)

Just further illustrates how deeply entrenched the unofficial networks of influence are so well established that this reverse has happened in so short a time.

"The concept of sex"
CONCEPT! How did that wording even get in there?

It’s not a real word. I don’t use it.

[quote FemaleAndLearning]I see they also have a coverage census to pick up those who are missing, not sure how that works in practice though. I suspect they just go to postcode areas with very low returns? I don't open my door to strangers ID or no ID.
census.gov.uk/about-the-census/about-the-census-coverage-survey[/quote]
They might self-id as someone you know. 😁

"The concept of sex" CONCEPT! How did that wording even get in there?

Other organisations were met with individually, these organisations we met with in 2019, when the Census 2021 questions on sex and gender had been agreed, are listed below. Those we met with more than once on this topic are marked with a star (*)

Stonewall*

If you are considering how to answer, use the sex recorded on one of your legal documents such as a birth certificate, Gender Recognition Certificate, or passport.

Surely sex is the same on GRC and birth certificate - isn't that the whole point of a GRC . Why they can't just put "sex on birth certificate" I don't know.

Also, I just checked, and you can't just self-ID for a passport - you need a GRC or a letter from doctor. So that means you need to have at least made the effort of convincing a doctor.

At least the sex question isn't entirely self-Id.

Will it be possible to correct disaggregate the data by cross referencing with GRC / passport sex change requests?

Just reading the section on equality monitoring . Starts with some factual info about what is stated in the Equality Act and Equality and Human Rights Commission, who define sex and what is on a person's current birth certificate (I guess I can live with that if the alternative is self-id). Then got the end of the section and realised that they are only considering equality and discrimination IN RELATION TO TRANS PEOPLE! WTF????

they are only considering equality and discrimination IN RELATION TO TRANS PEOPLE! WTF????

Sadly, I don't think that is uncommon. I remember the EQIA done for the ScotGov GRA consultation didn't bother to evaluate the impact on women, only on transpeople.

We've just published this blog about the ONS announcement, which we hope will be helpful.

murrayblackburnmackenzie.org/2021/02/12/ons-guidance-for-the-sex-question-in-the-2021-census-in-england-and-wales/

Thanks MBM - but depressing.

I suggested above that we could just go outside and legally leave ourselves out of the census -= but I've now checked (oops, my bad) and these days the form asks about "who USUALLY lives here" not "who was here at date/time X" so while the broom cupboard has massive significance as a protest one would also have to refuse to be on the form. Sigh.

MurrayBlackburnMackenzie a driver's licence is also a government-issued document, and they allow change of sex simply on request.

One could argue that so is a council tax bill, and that if it addresses you as Miss/Ms/Mrs it's stating your sex - that is also entirely on request.