The Problematics of Assessing Trans Identity in Survey Research: A Modest Proposal for Improving Question Design

Abstract

One of the central issues facing the trans community today is not only to be counted, but also how to be properly counted. If and how trans people are counted has a huge impact on what we know, or what we think we know, about the trans community. When trans people are not counted, we know nothing, but when trans people are counted incorrectly, the results can be even worse. The question addressed in this paper, therefore, is how to develop a question(s) that will more accurately account for the trans population on national surveys. By drawing on cognitive interviews testing a gender identity and sexual identity question for a national official health survey, an argument is made for an improved method of understanding trans measurement on surveys.

Are You…? Asking Questions on Sex with a Third Category in Germany

“…Developing survey questions that capture both the complexity of non-binary sex and gender and can easily be implemented in general population surveys remains challenging (Ryan 2019). Further research is needed to provide general recommendations for sociodemographic questions that allow surveying the whole diversity of respondent groups.…”

Misgendering as epistemic injustice: A queer STS approach

“…Especially for gender minorities and people who address healthcare services, data acquisition through official demographic statistics has important policy effects. In that sense, important research gaps and omissions should be addressed, since TGNC identities are often excluded from health-related studies as statistically irrelevant (Ryan, 2019).…”

“…Nonprobability samplings through the Internet in national populations and needs assessment studies in regional levels are two methodological tools that have been widely used in previous research in order to respond to trans specific issues, making it particularly hard to generalise results to a wider population (Ryan, 2019). This problematic management of variations in trans experience in quantitative surveys makes it harder to generalise results, as some health conditions might be overrepresented, while others conflated, undervalued or silenced (Freeman, 2018).…”

“…The level and progress of each transition, the subjective meaning each person attributes to transition, cultural and contextual factors, as well as the level of adherence to the binary gender systems, risk being lost in search of homogeneity and normative answers. Consequently, not counting gender diversity can be detrimental, but counting it bad can prove even worse (Ryan, 2019). Some individuals that have undergone a complete process of medical reassignment do not appear to confront the same discrimination as other TGNC people do, independent of whether they self define as transsexual or not.…”