Contents
What should gender options be on forms?
Keep in mind the following principles when (re)designing a form:
- Use gender-inclusive language (parent/guardian, etc.
- Include non-binary genders;
- Think about why you are collecting data about gender or sex.
- Do not require honorifics, and/or include inclusive forms of honorifics (Dr., Mx., etc.);
How do you ask for gender on a form?
If you are only asking for someone’s gender identity so you will know how to address them, it’s better to just ask for pronouns or title (for example Ms./she/her or Mx./they/them).
What are the options on the gender identity question?
The gender identity question also includes options for people who have a non-binary gender identity (people who do not identify as male or female).
How to ask about gender in forms respectfully?
Adding “transgender” as a multi-select option gives people the choice as to whether to tell us about their transgender status. Another option is to ask about transgender identity in a separate question. Some people find they don’t have a gender at all. This is a kind of agender identity. To perfect the question, don’t make it about having gender.
How can you make the gender question on an application?
I identify my gender as… If you’d rather not have a fill in the blank because it will complicate things (e.g., make it harder to sort a spreadsheet), but you want to be incredibly inclusive and specific, here’s another suggestion: I identify my gender as… And if you’d rather have fewer options, even at the sake of inclusivity/specificity:
Do you have to be the gender assigned at birth?
For some people, their sex assigned at birth doesn’t match their gender identity. But if we’re trying to understand diversity in the workplace, or even who uses our product, we should be far more interested in the way that person experiences the world than their biological sex.