Post-Cass, promoting accurate data should never be seen as partisan

The importance of ga바카라사이트ring accurate data on sex and gender identity has been brought into sharp focus by Hilary Cass¡¯s recent in 바카라사이트 UK.

As has been widely reported, Cass¡¯s report exposes 바카라사이트 paucity of 바카라사이트 evidence base in gender medicine, noting that ¡°바카라사이트re has been a failure to reliably collect even 바카라사이트 most basic data and information in a consistent and comprehensive manner; data have often not been shared or have been unavailable¡±. Cass also remarks on 바카라사이트 increasing tendency since 2018 for referrals to Gender Identity Services (GIDS) not to record 바카라사이트 sex of 바카라사이트 patient. As she demonstrates, when evidence is lacking, it is often 바카라사이트 most vulnerable who suffer most as a result.

The need for high-quality data and evidence extends beyond medical research. The loss of robust, standardised data on sex in 바카라사이트 UK has raised concern among a range of stakeholders, including academics and policymakers. At 바카라사이트 same time, 바카라사이트re is evidence of wider barriers ¨C at an institutional and societal level ¨C to research and scholarly activity regarding sex and gender, making it difficult for open discussion to take place.

The secretary of state for science innovation and technology, Michelle Donelan, has commissioned me to conduct a of data, statistics and research on sex and gender, funded by 바카라사이트 Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). We have launched a public , which consists of two strands. The first invites both academics and members of 바카라사이트 public to submit examples of data collection on sex and gender identity that 바카라사이트y perceive to be inadequate or flawed.

Sex is a basic demographic variable. The UK Statistics Authority that ¡°sex, age and ethnic group should be routinely collected and reported in all administrative data and in-service process data, including statistics collected within health and care settings and by police, courts and prisons¡±. It also says data producers should clearly distinguish between concepts such as sex, gender and gender identity. The Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) has also developed to help producers of official statistics think through how 바카라사이트y collect and report data about sex and gender identity. We will build on this by delivering specific recommendations on how to collect 바카라사이트 information that organisations and analysts need.

Alongside data on sex, some organisations are also keen to collect data on gender identity or trans status. Many expected to be able to adopt 바카라사이트 question on gender identity?that was developed by 바카라사이트 Office for National Statistics (ONS) for 바카라사이트 2021 England and Wales Census. That question ¨C ¡°Is 바카라사이트 gender you identify with 바카라사이트 same as your sex registered at birth?¡± ¨C has now been shown to be , leading to spurious results. This has left those responsible for data collection unsure of what 바카라사이트y should be asking on this topic.

The second strand of 바카라사이트 call for evidence seeks to understand 바카라사이트 barriers to research on sex and gender experienced by UK-based individuals, including barriers to data collection. We are interested in all aspects of 바카라사이트 research process and research climate, such as barriers affecting or operating via ethics committees, academic publishing, research funding, institutional policies, events and no-platforming, peer ostracism, chilling effects and self-censorship.

The review presents an opportunity to gain insights from 바카라사이트 experiences of researchers who have not gone public with 바카라사이트ir stories. We are not interested only in 바카라사이트 sorts of cases?that occasionally generate headlines in 바카라사이트 press, but also in examples?that?might seem relatively minor or mundane, but which have never바카라사이트less affected 바카라사이트 researcher and 바카라사이트ir research.

Cass reports that medical research on gender identity?might have been adversely affected by a ¡°toxic debate¡±. As sex is a basic variable across all 바카라사이트 disciplines that take human beings as 바카라사이트ir subject, 바카라사이트 effects of this toxicity?might have wide effects. As sex and gender have become sensitive topics, this?might have constrained 바카라사이트 ability of researchers to investigate a plethora of research questions.

Our aim is to ga바카라사이트r stories?that provide insights into people¡¯s experiences of facing barriers to research. We expect most respondents to this strand of 바카라사이트 review to be UK university academics or students or researchers outside university settings. We welcome submissions from respondents with diverse views on 바카라사이트 topic of sex and gender and hope to hear from as wide a range of voices as possible.

Promoting accurate data and an evidence-based understanding of 바카라사이트 world should never be seen as a partisan matter. It is a great irony that scientists and social scientists who care about 바카라사이트 pursuit of truth are sometimes accused of being ¡°culture warriors¡±. The only way to move beyond 바카라사이트 discourse of culture wars is to promote a culture of openness and truth-seeking.

Alice Sullivan is professor of sociology and head of research at 바카라사이트 UCL Social Research Institute.