If you don’t have a gender identity - how to answer the census?

[Cwenthryth]

Following from the discussion on FPFW’s legal challenge to the ONS and discussion on Dr Nic’s appearance on Woman’s Hour yesterday, but I thought this topic deserved a separate place to discuss.

Let me make it 100% clear that I do not object to gender identity being recorded on the census, at all. It is important to many people. However I do object to the wording of the question assuming I have one, and conflating gender identity with sex, so it being very unclear as to how I should answer this question to provided accurate data.

The question is:

Is the gender you identify as the same as your sex registered at birth?

Tick Yes

Or

Tick No, and write in gender identity (18 characters permitted)

If you, like me, do not personally identify as having a gender identity, or indeed, as many do, politically and philosophically object to the concept of gender entirely as an oppressive, misogynistic tool of the patriarchy (whilst, just to be 100% clear, not objecting at all to others’ right to believe whatever else is right for them, identify as whatever they feel and have that identity recognised and counted on the census; I feel similarly about most organised religion but have no wish to shut down the churches and mosques!): How do you think you will answer or indeed can answer this question? Do you think it’s important that there is a co-ordinated response - I think these write-in answers are collated, otherwise how is it we know how many Jedis there are in the U.K. (390,127 in 2001, if you are interested. In Brighton 2.6% of the population were Jedi).

It’s voluntary, we don’t have to answer. We can leave it blank. I worry this will not record us though.

Or we can tick No, and write something in - something accurate and descriptive - NONE, NO GENDER IDENTITY, GENDER ATHEIST, NO BELIEF IN GENDER....? Or, perhaps if you would identify with this, GENDER ABOLITIONIST?

Or use the space as a protest (not sure about this at all - this is data collection) - SEX NOT GENDER, GENDER IS PATRIARCHY, GENDER IS MISOGYNY (thanks @EmpressWitchDoesntBurn), SMASH THE PATRIARCHY....

I’m not sure what to do for the best, to be accurate, for the greater good. This is an historical record of national importance. Would really appreciate exploring this on here!

I've just completed it. I skipped the question. It does seem a bit odd, I did not get asked about what age I would like to be or what other passports I fancied having. They asked a lot about jobs and nothing about what other jobs I would like to have.

I'm like Durtysarf. I ordered a paper copy but it hasn't arrived, which is really annoying as now I'll have to do it on line and can't include the letter I was going to send in with it

My paper copy arrived today so it shouldn't be too long.
I think I ordered mine about about a week ago.

I'm definitely going to include the letter from the sexinthecensus website and I may create my own tick box saying "I do not have a gender identity" under the other two options.

sexinthecensus.org/

Has anyone ordered a paper copy today and are you planning to wait until it arrives to fill it in? This would be my plan, but don't know how long we can wait...should've done my research sooner!

I would tick no and write Agender.

I phoned yesterday because my paper copy hasn’t arrived. I was told not to worry as we have until 5th(? iirc) May to complete.

It’s voluntary, we don’t have to answer. We can leave it blank. I worry this will not record us though

Apols if this has already been mentioned, but I read somewhere (Sex Matters or Fair Play for Women or Women's Place ...) that if we want to ensure that the message 'Gender is bollocks' We should NOT put anything there.

Any response will be recorded and recorded as acquiescence to 'gender identity'

@Xanthangum

I have put a blank sticker on it.

Love this! Think I’ll do the same.

Oh, and also - my county's "County in Europe" organisation sent an email a couple of weeks ago saying that "European" counted as a nationality.

So, if you're still a European despite the appalling Brexit, we can tick British (or whatever) then add in the free text section "European."

I would tick no and write Agender.

Please don't do that because you are subscribing to the concept that you believe in/have a gender.

I would tick no and write Agender.
This acquiesces to the premise of the question, which is the issue in the first place. Also I don’t identify with that label.

Any response will be recorded and recorded as acquiescence to 'gender identity'
Only if we tick the ‘no’ box!!!

I’m not answering the yes/no question but will write stuff. Still formulating.

I submitted a complaint about the question. There’s an option at the end to give feedback on the census. Suggest everyone use the feedback form to complain about this question and also about the use of ‘their’ in place of ‘his / her’ which really annoys me.

@Skysblue

I submitted a complaint about the question. There’s an option at the end to give feedback on the census. Suggest everyone use the feedback form to complain about this question and also about the use of ‘their’ in place of ‘his / her’ which really annoys me.

Is that online? Could I just copy and paste sexinthecensus letter into it?

(Didn't manage to order a paper copy).

Waronwomen that's what I did.

I wrote "I DO NOT HAVE ONE", because there weren't enough spaces on the large print form I'd requested to fit the full "I do not have a gender identity" that I would have preferred to write.

You still have time to order paper copies and as was mentioned upthread you have weeks to complete it yet. It is supposed to reflect the state of play ON 21st March, not be completed BY 21st March.

I have thought long about this and for gc people I don't think there is a good answer.
Leave it blank - serious worries about people doing this.
If gc people don't answer this question, a disproportionate number of people who do answer it will be gi believers. So, imagine if someone looked at percentages it might be 70% of people who answered this said their gi did not match their sex.
If you tick no, but then write in something, how will that be classified? If you put 'sexnotgenger' would that be recorded as a response made in good faith? Irrespective of what you may write in the boxes, my guess would be as you ticked 'no' you would be classified as sex and gender not matching.
If am erring towards ticking yes, even though I am gc, as I think the more it is shown that people's gi and sex are the same, the more chance there is that gi will be seen as the small fringe issue it is and we can move on to other things (I can live in hope)

I’m hoping that in reality the answers collated for this question will be statistically fairly useless. If I were to guess, maybe 5% people will leave it blank or write “no gender etc”. Maybe 5% people will write No and 90% people will write yes.

I know it’s still a question of principle but the most important battle has been won (by FPFW).

I’m very happy to be argued with, but I am taking comfort from my thinking that the data from this question is highly unlikely to disadvantage women?

I don't think there is a good answer. If I was trying to score the answers, if someone hadn't ticked either box, but then wrote something in, would that be classified as not being answered as no box was ticked? In that case would any notice be taken of anything you wrote in the free text?
Also, if you write something rude like 'f off" or 'bollocks to gender' or something obviously taking the p such as 'attack helicopter' or 'jedi' will these be recorded or just be discounted like a spoilt ballot)

I ticked "no" and put "I don't believe in gender identities"

The online form seemed to take the full text.

It was the only action that felt honest.

It will be fairly meaningless anyway. It is voluntary, so not all the population will answer it. That in itself makes it more likely that gi people will answer it and gc people won't.
Some gc women have said they will put no and identify as male because they are trying to make a point about stereotyping, not because they believe in gi. Will anyone get that subtlety?
Also, some trans people have said they will answer yes rather than no (because they are living in their 'correct' sex/identity)
Some people will think this relates to sexual orientation.
Some people won't answer it because they don't understand it and have already answered the sex question so??
Still others will be like my dh. He thinks gender woo is rubbish and I explained the feminist protest, but he still said "I am a man and I identify as a man/Male not woman/female's. He will therefore answer Male sex and yes to gender q.
Glad to hear there is a feedback section. I think it is very important that as many people as possible make some of these points

How would blibbyblobby's response be classified?
Not being sarky, just genuine. It's not straightforward, so another reason why this question will be pretty useless!

I work in a field that uses census data and have some contact with people who input to ons.
When the questions were being considered some years ago, it was mentioned at a meeting that 'the gender question was being asked'. There was eye rolling and general groans. Statisticians know
I think at various points there were alternatives such as 'what is your gender' answer as you like and no sex question ar all or 'what sex would you describe yourself as'
So the idea of two questions is probably a good one. The FPFW case was a good outcome and gives clear water between the two questions. It also had the side effect of bringing the whole debate to a wider audience.
When the age/sex pyramid becomes an age/gender pyramid is when I retire

@Blibbyblobby

I ticked "no" and put "I don't believe in gender identities"

The online form seemed to take the full text.

It was the only action that felt honest.

I am going to do the same. I think that phrase best describes my stance.

I did it online. I put in a complaint at the end (you get the option to do this) stating the importance of having accurate data on biological sex. (Referencing planning for NHS services and how the data is used to help other NHS data surveys).

Leave blank and inclyde the following letter
Professor Sir Ian Diamond
National Statistician
Office for National Statistics
c/o Freepost Census 2021

[insert date]

Dear Sir Ian,

CENSUS 2021: OBJECTION TO DATA PROCESSING

I am pleased that the ONS recognises that data on sex is “vital for understanding population growth and equality monitoring”. So I am disappointed that it has decided not to use to Question 3 (“sex”) in the 2021 Census to gather information consistently on sex as registered at birth for the whole population and it is using this question instead to gather information which will be an unknown mixture of information on sex registered at birth and the opposite sex.

I am therefore writing to the ONS, as data controller for the Census 2021 under the Data Protection Act 2018, to exercise my right to object under Article 21(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to the information I have provided in response to Question 3 being processed as anything other than my sex registered at birth. This includes all recording, storing and reporting. My reason for raising this objection is that my sex was accurately registered at birth and cannot be changed. I can provide more information about why this has mattered to me, should that be helpful. I therefore do not want my response to be treated in any context as possibly representing a “sex” other than my sex registered at birth. I am also exercising my right to obtain from you as data controller a restriction of processing under Article 18(1)(d) of the GDPR, which applies where the data subject “has objected to processing pursuant to Article 21(1) pending the verification whether the legitimate grounds of the controller override those of the data subject”. I am seeking this restriction only in relation to any processing of my response to Question 3 as anything other than my sex registered at birth. I understand from the Information Commissioner’s Office that the ONS has one calendar month to respond to my objection. If it intends to override my objection it should let me know, explaining its decision and must demonstrate to me that it has legitimate grounds to do so. Please use the address at the top of this letter for your response.
I am sorry that that I am unable to contribute to responses to the new voluntary Question 27, because of the way it has been worded. I do not accept that I identify with a gender, so I am unable to respond with either a “Yes” or “No” to the question “Is the gender you identify with the same as your sex registered at birth?”. When you are considering why response rates to this question were not higher, please take cases like mine into account.