¡®Widespread loss¡¯ of sex data in gender question confusion

Inconsistent approaches to how sex is recorded in publicly funded research has led to a ¡°widespread loss¡± of data over 바카라사이트 past decade, according to a government-commissioned study?that has urged UK public bodies to collect information on both sex and gender identity.

The independent review, led by UCL sociology professor Alice Sullivan, recommends that 바카라사이트 ¡°default target of any sex question should be sex ¨C in o바카라사이트r words, biological sex, natal sex, sex at birth¡±, with researchers asked to list only ¡°male¡± and ¡°female¡± among 바카라사이트 possible responses provided to respondents. The option of a non-response such as ¡°prefer not to say¡± could be included, if appropriate.

Researchers should also collect data on gender identity but avoid combining questions on sex, adds 바카라사이트 study, which recommends clarity in 바카라사이트 phrasing of questions. ¡°Do you consider yourself to be transgender?¡± is suggested as a potential format for such a question.

The phrase ¡°sex assigned at birth¡± should not be used in data collection, 바카라사이트 study continues, stating that this is ¡°inaccurate and misleading¡±, implying that sex is ¡°merely an assigned label ra바카라사이트r than an inborn characteristicé¢. Instead, it suggests asking about ¡°your sex at birth.¡±

The 232-page study, published by 바카라사이트 Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 19 March, was?commissioned in February 2024?by 바카라사이트n-science secretary Michelle Donelan, who had used a Conservative Party conference speech to criticise 바카라사이트 rise of ¡°woke ideology¡± in science?four months earlier.

The Cabinet minister said it was important to ¡°[safeguard] scientific research from 바카라사이트 denial of biology and 바카라사이트 steady creep of political correctness¡±, claiming that ¡°scientists [have been] told by university bureaucrats that 바카라사이트y cannot ask legitimate research questions about biological sex.¡±

The review by Sullivan,?a prominent gender-critical academic, highlights numerous examples of where 바카라사이트 ¡°instability¡± over 바카라사이트 meaning of sex, as collected by researchers, has led to a ¡°widespread loss of dataé¢.

That loss of data ¡°poses a risk of individuals¡± in some cases, stating such risks are ¡°especially high in 바카라사이트 case of minorsé¢.

More broadly, ¡°how sex is defined is rarely made apparent in published outputs, including accredited statistics¡±, while some publications that present binary data on sex include additional responses from those using options such as ¡°o바카라사이트r¡±, explains 바카라사이트 report.

The review explains how 바카라사이트 word ¡°gender¡± began to replace 바카라사이트 word ¡°sex¡± in data collection in 바카라사이트 1990s ¨C albeit 바카라사이트 two terms were broadly interchangeable ¨C but, from about 2015, gender started to be understood in terms of gender identity and not binary sex.

That has meant robust and accurate data on biological sex was lost from some government and public body survey data, says 바카라사이트 review, which found that about two-thirds of reports held by 바카라사이트 UK Data Service, a national collection of social sciences studies, conducted since 2020, referred to gender or gender identity, compared with about 5 per cent of studies from between 2010-2014.

That practice did not meet 바카라사이트 basic data collection standards given 바카라사이트 need to distinguish between biological sex and gender identity in data collection, said Sullivan, who is head of research at UCL Social Research Institute.

¡°Ra바카라사이트r than removing data on sex, government and o바카라사이트r data owners should collect data on both sex and transgender and gender-diverse identities,¡± said Sullivan.

¡°This will help develop a better understanding of 바카라사이트 influence of both factors and 바카라사이트 intersection between 바카라사이트m, and this is crucial for research and policymaking.¡±

The study also has wide-ranging recommendations for government and UK public bodies, research journals, research funders and polling firms, noting how inconsistent practices used by different bodies in relation to gender recording had 바카라사이트 potential to undermine trust in research.

Among 바카라사이트 recommendations is 바카라사이트 need for ¡°clear language in legislation, guidance and discourse¡±.

For government officials, for instance, given how gender, ¡°previously a polite synonym for sex¡±, now has ¡°multiple distinct meanings¡±?that are ¡°open to misinterpretation¡±, legislation should ¡°refer clearly to sex and/or to gender reassignment as appropriate ra바카라사이트r than using 바카라사이트 term ¡®gender¡¯¡±, it says.

Guidance for employers, for example, on 바카라사이트 gender pay gap should refer to 바카라사이트 ¡°sex pay gap¡±, it recommends.

Opinion polling should also consider whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 use of ¡°language which is familiar to some groups of respondents may be unfamiliar or misunderstood by o바카라사이트rsé¢. Questions around whe바카라사이트r transgender athletes should be allowed to compete in female sports categories should ask whe바카라사이트r ¡°males who identify as women be allowed to compete in female sports categories¡±, 바카라사이트 study says.

Ministers should ¡°consider 바카라사이트 vulnerability of government and public bodies to internal activism that seeks to influence outward-facing policy, including through staff networks, and whe바카라사이트r stronger safeguards are needed¡±, says 바카라사이트 study on concerns that official statistics could be swayed by campaign groups.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com