Should forms ask for gender or sex?

[Pellewsmate]

My DS is joining YFC and the membership form asks for gender, I think that this is wrong and that they should be asking for sex as sex is a protected characteristic and that the correct thing to do is ask about gender separately if they wish. Can anyone offer me any advise before I put my somewhat tactless opinion on the form?

I'd expect sex as that is what they need to know for safeguarding purposes, eg on overnight trips, camping etc.

It should be sex.

Personally I think asking for a gender identity and/or sexual orientation is an invasion of privacy and a data issue.

How old is your DS?

I think you are right. And you should never feel bad about making your opinion known.

And wiser posters than me will be along in a moment to help you with wording.

It should definitely be sex, for many reasons (safeguarding, protected characteristic, privacy issues).

It should ask for sex anything else is a safeguarding issue, simple straightforward no room for doubt or misinterpretation. Sex is a protected characteristic, gender is not.

Aside from the sex or gender wording, what are the options for answers?

Thanks for your replies. DS is 17 and is fully on board with the fact that biological sex can't be changed, at least I've never seen him try to milk the bull.

The options for the answer are male, female and self identify. Guess which has the biggest box.

A simple, innocent way to ask I think is

"Do you mean gender identity or gender as is biological sex?"

Just to imply you are unsure and it needs clarifying. No need to say anything further until they reply.

Yup, farmers understand biology!

You would think that any farming organisations would know what sex is FFS

Obviously it should be sex.
There could be a seperate, optional section for people who care about gender, as there was in the census.

@Pellewsmate

Thanks for your replies. DS is 17 and is fully on board with the fact that biological sex can't be changed, at least I've never seen him try to milk the bull.

😂😂

Oh you mean Young Farmers!
I googled YFC and got Youth for Christ.

I guess you don't live rurally if YFC didn't immediately say Young Farmers to you

Not that rurally. I know what 'Young Farmers' is as they talk about it on The Archers but they never say YFC so I didn't twig. I did think about Yeovil Football Club but that didn't seem to fit the context.