Asking users for their sex and gender - user research needed

[Sarraounia]

Research needed

There is inconsistency across Home Office services in how we ask for users' sex and gender.

We have done desk research, spoken to the research and design community and put together a draft pattern.

We have created some general inclusive language guidance. But there is a real need for an evidence-based pattern to make sure services align and to support design colleagues.

We need research to evidence the new suggested pattern. Are you, or do you know, a researcher that can help with this?

The draft pattern

Ask users for their sex

When to use this pattern

You should only ask users what their sex is if you genuinely cannot provide your service without this information.

If you need to ask users for this information, use ‘sex’ to collect biological data. For example, if your service needs to verify someone’s identity from the details on their identity document.

Check the sex options for the document you will be using in the service so that the options accurately reflect users’ document data. For example, if the users have non-UK passports, you need to include the 'Other (X)' option as this is an option on some non-UK passports.

Where possible, you should tell users what their data will be used for. You can do this in the hint text.

What is your sex?

This is the sex that is on your passport, travel document or identity document.

*Male

*Female

*Other (X)

Ask users for their gender

When to use this pattern

If your service needs data on how a person self-identifies to handle them or their case appropriately, for example to help with where someone should be housed if they are being detained.

There are scenarios where it is important to capture differences between biological sex and gender identity. In this case, you should ask both a sex and gender question to confirm the users’ identity.

What is your sex?

This is the sex that is on your passport or identity document.

*Male

*Female

*Other (X)

Is the gender you identify with the same as your sex registered at birth?

*Yes

*No

*Prefer not to say

If your service only needs to collect gender identity, just use a question about gender. For example, in Asylum operations users can choose to be interviewed by a staff member of a specific gender.

You can use hint text to explain what the data is being used for.

What is your gender?

Some applicants prefer a team member of a specific gender.

*Male

*Female

*Non-binary

*Prefer not to say

*Not known