Annex 2: Wording for the guidance for the census sex question
2022 Census in Scotland: Annex 2
| Scotland’s Census 2022 | Census in England and Wales 2021 |
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How do I answer this question? If you are transgender the answer you give can be different from what is on your birth certificate. You do not need a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC). If you are non-binary or you are not sure how to answer, you could use the sex registered on your official documents, such as your passport. A voluntary question about trans status or history will follow if you are aged 16 or over. You can respond as non-binary in that question. I am answering for someone else. How do I answer? If you are answering for someone else, where possible you should ask them how they want to answer. If they are away, select the answer you think they would choose. You do not need to know or ask whether they have a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC). Why is this question asked? The sex question provides vital information for organisations on national and local population statistics, and for long term analysis, as it has been asked since 1801. This question is also used for equality monitoring. |
Why we ask this question Your answer is key to understanding trends in the population. It also helps your local community by allowing charities, organisations, and local and central government to understand what services people might need. This information will be used for equality monitoring between groups of people of different sexes in your local area. Your answer also helps public bodies to identify discrimination or social exclusion based on sex, and work to stop it from happening. The sex question has been asked since 1801. This question is vital for understanding population growth and equality monitoring. Please select either “Female” or “Male”. If you are considering how to answer, use the sex recorded on one of your legal documents such as a birth certificate, Gender Recognition Certificate, or passport. If you are aged 16 years or over, there is a later voluntary question on gender identity. This asks if the gender you identify with is different from your sex registered at birth. If it is different, you can then record your gender identity. Answering on behalf of someone else If you are answering for someone else, where possible you should ask them how they would answer. If they are away, select the answer you think they would give. |