Filling in the census online

[TalkingtoLangClegintheDark]

Sorry I know there must be other threads on this specifically but I’ve searched and not found what I’m looking for - are there any suggestions on answering the voluntary questions, from a GC perspective, or do most people feel it’s moot now the actual sex question has been reclaimed as being about legal sex, at least?

Just mulling over how/if to answer those and would appreciate others’ thoughts, if anyone wants to share them.

Dont put anything for the gender question; there's a text box at the end for your comments and feedback.

I put comments in the feedback. I said that the gender identity question reinforced and promoted sexist stereotypes and wouldn't provide accurate data. Suggested that for planning purposes they should have asked whether people were in the process of or had transitioned from their birth sex.

Thanks, v helpful.

Is the feedback section after you hit the submit button?

It’s ok, got it!

I did just as described above. I ignored the q and then put a wide-eyed lengthy comment in the feedback detailing my confusion. What could you possibly be collecting data on? A feeling?

It was that or caps lock screaming into the void.

It's really intended for paper copies but you could send the letter, (or use some of the text from it) from the campaign Web site. Think it's called sex in the census dot org.

I've just completed the form online. I left the gender identity question blank, and posted the following feedback after submitting the form:
While it is laudable that you are seeking to collect data that would give insights into the trans community, your gender identity question is worded in such a way that makes it impossible to answer for those of us who do not believe in gender identity. I suggest a re-wording in future years, with a clear 'I do not have a gender identity' option, similar to the religion question. I think the data you have collected are likely to be muddied, both by people with no sense of their 'gender identity' ticking yes without really understanding the question and by people with a strong sense of their lack of gender identity ticking no. I very much hope that 'no' responses to this question will be properly scrutinised and categorised, and not all taken as declarations of a trans identity.

In the end I went with a strongly worded comment about them initially issuing guidance that contravened their own recognition of the importance of accurate data on biological sex, and their shameful capitulation to trans lobby groups thereon.

I wanted to address the “gender identity” issue as well but ran out of characters - but it sounds like others have addressed that so hopefully most of the angles will have been covered!

I wonder if the feedback is kept along with the census records? Don’t suppose it is, but if it were, I wonder how all this would be seen when the records are opened up 100 years from now.

@Manderleyagain

It's really intended for paper copies but you could send the letter, (or use some of the text from it) from the campaign Web site. Think it's called sex in the census dot org.

I was looking for this website initially but my search for “sex in the census” didn’t bring it up, only their initial statement before the website went live. Putting “org” in the search changed that, so thanks!

I didn't answer the gender question or the sexual orientation question. My husband didn't answer the gender question either and I suspect after our brief chat tonight neither will my son. He joked about whether his mum was going to get cancelled soon.

Damn, I didn’t realise you could leave comments. I’ve been asleep under a rock. Pleased to see that the gender identity question was not asked of children (under what age I don’t know, but my oldest is 12).

@umbel

Damn, I didn’t realise you could leave comments. I’ve been asleep under a rock. Pleased to see that the gender identity question was not asked of children (under what age I don’t know, but my oldest is 12).

Think it was under 16s. The question came up for the 17 yr old but not the 14 yr old.

I sometimes read the threads in feminism (think this is the first time I have actually posted cos you all a lot cleverer than me!)
But you guys had got me thinking once on gender identity because I do not identify with any gender I just am me (and I actually quite boyish really and think if all this changing from girl to boy etc was about when I was kid i might have taken that and run with it)
But anyway in the census question I actually did type in the box saying I do not feel like any gender I am just me

and I actually quite boyish really and think if all this changing from girl to boy etc was about when I was kid i might have taken that and run with it)

I think that's a concern for a lot of us. What would have happened if we'd grown up in these times. I'm another one who was a "tomboy" and found puberty quite difficult. I'm not hugely feminine and still wear some men's clothes now, but as an adult, I'm content as a woman.

For the voluntary gender identity question ‘does you gender identity align with your sex assigned at birth (or something)’, I said ‘no’ and underneath said ‘gender identity does not exist.’

Hope they get my point.

I have just filled in my section smd fidn’t notice that question just the one that asked what sex you are snd there were two options. DC said that is unfair on people who are born intersex. Assume they are assigned s sex at birth?

Is your DC at a Stonewalled school, QuidditchQueen? Sounds like they’ve had the “training”, anyway.

And yes. People with DSD’s don’t exist outside the male/female binary. In a very, very few cases it may not be immediately clear at birth, but people who are intersex are either female with a DSD or male with a DSD.

But a lot of people are very invested in telling young people otherwise, as reinforcement for their “sex is a spectrum” cobblers.

I think what’s really unfair is having your (usually distressing) medical condition co-opted by a completely separate group of people who spread fallacies about it in order to further their own ideology.