Crossing out 'gender' and writing 'sex' on child's health form

[FeelingSad2024]

Had a letter today from our local public health authority about immunisations for my child. In the details section it asked for 'Gender- M or F'. In a small act of rebellion, I crossed out 'gender' and wrote 'sex' above it.

I hate it when public bodies can't even get the distinction between sex and gender. Surely accurate recording of that is important?

Anyway, I am sure someone will read the form and roll their eyes and my card is marked, but it made me feel better.

I filled in a form that listed a number of genders. The most appropriate one for me to tick was ciswoman but I don't want to be known as a ciswoman, so I wrote female in the "other" box.

I've done this.

I am very limited in what I can do especially at work, but this is something I’ve done wherever I can. I believe there is still the “say gender not sex as means the same and more polite” going on so I think these small acts are important.

I always put, "I have a sex not a gender" and leave them to guess.

Yes, I cross out gender and usually write Sex= Adult human female or something similar in the Other box. Sometimes I write ‘I don’t believe in gender identity’
They probably think I’m just a cranky old woman but I don’t care!

I do this wherever possible, too.

Just because I disagree doesn’t mean I lack intelligence or understanding. Perhaps a less patronising approach might get you further with your protests.

I've found my people. I have been accused of being a pendant many times on MN because of this!

Maybe engaging more fulsomely than with a few eye roll emojis would help us to better respond to your post.

I mean there is an argument that eye rolling emojis come across as very patronising.

Eye rolling is extremely patronising and invalidating.

And why would you disagree? Just wondering why?

I noticed this too recently and felt heartened.

the most annoying thing is E forms where the gender question is compulsory and there is no option to write anything.

I do this every time - facts are more important the feels on medical information

Keep changing it! It does make a difference. I was able to use the fact that lots of people were crossing it out and writing sex or I don't have a gender identity to make the case to change it to biological sex! Because to be frank, in a medical context, that's what I need to know.

I do it. Warmed my heart when I picked up a school form that DH had already filled it and realised he did it, too.

Well done. O P
I was listening to somebody's podcast recently (Neil Oliver? ) when he suggested we have all been so cowed into compliance by all arms of the establishment that we should practice small acts of defiance, say once a week, to keep our muscle memory for it alive. So when a time comes that something important that you disagree with is being pushed on you, you won't automatically go along with it.

And yet we still get people on here posting their ultrasound scan and asking for the baby's gender!

Ah I have found my people. I did have a moments pause where I thought, what if their teacher or the school secretary see this (the forms went back in book bags) and they think I'm a TERF or general trouble maker? And then gave my head a wobble because who cares what they think of me?

Makes me feel a bit sad that I have been so conditioned by this gender ideology nonsense that I felt slightly worries about backlash about changing the form!

Exactly. That's my thinking.

Sure. I'd argue that the consequences of that are slight, overall, though. Whereas the NHS recording people's 'gender' instead of their sex is potentially very grave.

Yes, I do this too.

Alternatively, crossing out 'gender' and adding sex is to point out the lack of legitimacy of 'gender'.

You disagree that health organisations must ask for a child or adult's biological sex to ensure accurate and appropriate medical treatment, vaccinations or screening? And that feelings over ride the need for accuracy in health and medical care? Wow that's um, well I don't know really. Not wanting to ensure appropriate care is given seems shortsighted.

The thing that always makes me laugh the most is when I'm filling in something to do with my cats and it asks for their gender instead of their sex.

Official documents e.g. passport and birth certificate state 'Sex' I don't know why every other document shouldn't say the same - I'd have thought medical records are as important as ID documents.