A government-commissioned report by Alice Sullivan highlights significant confusion surrounding the distinction between biological sex and gender identity in UK data recording systems. Sullivan notes this confusion has evolved since the 1990s, leading to inconsistencies that result in a loss of crucial data on sex, particularly affecting healthcare, safeguarding, and crime statistics. The report calls for updated guidance to ensure clear and distinct recording of both sex and gender identity, thereby enhancing the ability to track outcomes for diverse populations and improving the overall clarity of data collection practices.
Sullivan argues that confusion around 'gender' has led to a significant loss of data on sex: 'It's this confusion around the word gender... it's become a way of recording gender diverse identities.'
The report highlights how inconsistent recording practices hinder the ability to track health outcomes: 'Some crime statistics recorded people's preferred gender, rather than their sex... it's become impossible to trace future outcomes of certain groups.'
Sullivan emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between sex and gender in data: 'There's no reason to see this as a trade-off... they're two distinct variables.'
The report outlines a call for updated guidance on data recording to improve clarity and safety in areas such as healthcare: 'The health department said it would urgently look into what it called serious findings.'
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