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Sex code X

Identifying and definitional attributes

Metadata item type:Help on this termValue Domain
METEOR identifier:Help on this term635128
Registration status:Help on this term
  • Children and Families, Recorded 18/05/2020
  • Early Childhood, Standard 24/07/2018
  • Health, Superseded 15/02/2022
  • Homelessness, Standard 10/08/2018
  • Indigenous, Standard 16/10/2017
  • Youth Justice, Recorded 23/05/2022
Definition:Help on this term

A code set representing the biological distinction between male, female and other.

Representational attributes

Representation class:Help on this termCode
Data type:Help on this termString
Format:Help on this termX
Maximum character length:Help on this term1
Permissible values:Help on this term
ValueMeaning
1Male
2Female
3Other
Supplementary values:Help on this term
9Not stated/inadequately described

Collection and usage attributes

Guide for use:Help on this term

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Standard for Sex and Gender Variables includes the following Alternate Code system:

M    Male

F    Female

X    Other

For statistical purposes, the following category codes, labels and definitions are preferred:

CODE 1   Male

Persons who have male or predominantly masculine biological characteristics, or male sex assigned at birth.

CODE 2   Female

Persons who have female or predominantly feminine biological characteristics, or female sex assigned at birth.

CODE 3   Other

Persons who have mixed or non-binary biological characteristics (if known), or a non-binary sex assigned at birth.

The value meaning of 'Other' has been assigned to Code 3 for this value domain, which replaces 'Intersex or indeterminate' for the superseded value domain Sex code N. Terms such as 'indeterminate', 'intersex', 'non-binary', and 'unspecified' are variously used to describe the 'Other' category of sex. The label 'Other' is used because a more descriptive term has not been widely agreed within the general community.

Sex refers to the chromosomal, gonadal and anatomical characteristics associated with biological sex. Where there is an inconsistency between anatomical and chromosomal characteristics, sex is based on anatomical characteristics.

Comments:Help on this term

The ABS will periodically review its Standard for Sex and Gender Variables. This process will specifically investigate the appropriateness of the naming of the 'Other' category.

Source and reference attributes

Submitting organisation:Help on this termAustralian Youth Justice Administrators (AYJA)
Origin:Help on this term<p>Australian Bureau of Statistics 2016. <a href="http://abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/latestProducts/1200.0.55.012Media%20Release12016">Standard for Sex and Gender Variables </a>(Cat. no. 1200.0.55.012). Viewed 26 July 2016.</p><p>Attorney-General's Department 2015. <a href="https://www.ag.gov.au/Publications/Pages/AustralianGovernmentGuidelinesontheRecognitionofSexandGender.aspx"><span style="color: #0066cc;">Australian Government Guidelines on the Recognition of Sex and Gender</span></a>. Viewed 26 July 2016.</p>

Relational attributes

Related metadata references:Help on this term
Supersedes Sex code N
  • Children and Families, Standard 22/11/2016
  • Commonwealth Department of Health, Recorded 16/07/2015
  • Community Services (retired), Standard 01/03/2005
  • Disability, Standard 07/10/2014
  • Early Childhood, Superseded 24/07/2018
  • Health, Superseded 11/05/2017
  • Homelessness, Standard 23/08/2010
  • Housing assistance, Standard 10/02/2006
  • Independent Hospital Pricing Authority, Standard 01/11/2012
  • Indigenous, Superseded 16/10/2017
  • National Health Performance Authority (retired), Retired 01/07/2016
  • Youth Justice, Qualified 29/06/2022
Has been superseded by Sex code X
  • Health, Standard 15/02/2022
  • Youth Justice, Standard 15/02/2022
Data elements implementing this value domain:Help on this term
Person—sex, code X
  • ACT Health (retired), Candidate 08/08/2018
  • Children and Families, Recorded 18/05/2020
  • Early Childhood, Standard 24/07/2018
  • Health, Superseded 15/02/2022
  • Homelessness, Standard 10/08/2018
  • Indigenous, Standard 16/10/2017
  • Youth Justice, Recorded 23/05/2022
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