Emailed HR

[Mumteedum]

I was asked to update personal details this morning.

I had two options regarding sex and gender. What is your gender identity? Options I think were male/female/prefer not to say. And does your gender identity match the sex assigned at birth? Yes/no/prefer not to say.

I sent a very polite email asking them to consider an alternative as this does not represent me accurately. It's a bit nerve wracking. So far our university has been fairly balanced but watch this space 🙈

I do think “I don’t have a gender identity” should be included, or the whole question should be made optional.

They may as well be asking everyone if the are protestant or RC or Sunni or Shia.

Well done. And yes, this might get interesting.

Your right to disbelieve in transgenderism is enshrined in law. As is your right to believe in biological sex.

Which could either mean a 'not applicable' box, or something more definitive.

'Prefer not to say' seems to presuppose the existence of a gender identity that you just don't want to disclose.

Exactly. I politely said that while I respect that other people may feel they have a gender identity, I consider myself female on the basis of my sex and do not have a gender identity. That their question did not reflect who I am and could we consider rephrasing so we cater for all participating.

Nicely done!

I had this too - I think it comes from an outside body, in my case HESA in Scotland so the Uni doesn't have control over the question. I mentioned to HR that I identify by sex not gender. If I don't update my details I can't change my bank details on my personal staff info I've found.

Emailed HR anyway and didn't hear back.

Well done OP!
I'll take note of your wording in case I'm ever faced with something like that.

Can't you have a biological sex and a gender identity even if you don't agree that these can be different?

All that is needed is
Sex: male/female

If they really wanted or needed to:

Do you have an identity that is a different gender to your sex: Yes/no/prefer not to say

I think by reframing the subject as an identity then I could circle ‘no’

No you can’t if you think gender identity is nonsense no

you have a sex and that’s it.

Of course you can.

Some people don't have a gender identity. I know I don't. I just have a biological sex.

Glasgow that's what I asked

It's like "what is your religion"
with options Christian, Muslim, etc.
but no option to say "I don't have a religion".

Mumteedum

do you have any suggestions in mind, in case they ask?

Yes. But you can also not have a gender identity.

I don’t “feel” or “identify” as a woman, but I have a female reproductive system so I am a woman.

I also have a personality that tends towards male traits, but they’re only male because society says so and not because they’re intrinsically linked with a penis.

They have asked the appropriate questions you can always leave something blank if you don't agree

I also work for a university and complained about this YEARS ago to HR, long before the Forstater case made it legit. I pointed out that we weren't collecting any information on a vital protected characteristic (sex). They replied that the format they collected data in was prescribed by HEFCE. Agree we need to change this but the rot goes deep

My employer (a Stonewall champion 🙄) is the same and I got into a dialogue with HR about it. I was told they had consulted with the company LGBTQWTF+ group who had advised them on the questions but they couldn’t be changed. I asked about how they can collect data in line with the equality act and analyse the gender (sex!) pay gap but haven’t got an answer. I also said it was non-inclusive to anyone who doesn’t believe in gender identity but haven’t heard about that either.
We do have the option to state ‘none’ under religion.

But you can’t answer the question if it is only asking about gender rather than sex.
As has been said before ‘prefer not to say’ or ‘other’ is not appropriate.

Only appropriate if you believe in GI (which we don’t you’ll be shocked to hear).

the questions should be:
sex: male/female
are you transgender: yes/no
if yes what is your transgender identity?

Have they now? I'd ask them why they want to collect data about "gender identity" and what they intend to use it for, given that the relevant characteristics in the Equality Act are Sex and Gender Reassignment.. So, if it's about having data to monitor equality act characteristics, they should be asking about those specific characteristics, not "gender identity".

And if it's not about monitoring equality, then what is the reasonable and necessary use that they need this data for?

I’d also ask what the point to asking this is? They may walk as well ask favourite vegetable or first pet name. Actually they’d better off asking if you have any allergies or health issues they need to be aware of.

No they have not

The emoloyer is collecting data they have no need to collect data on an employees "gender Identity".

But it will turn out that the reason that they are collecting this data is that somebody somewhere decided that term "gender Identity" could replace a PC.

If I left anything blank, the form wouldn't save. No question at all about biological sex.