Person—gender, text X[X(99)]
Data Element Attributes
Identifying and definitional attributes | |
Metadata item type:![]() | Data Element |
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Short name:![]() | Gender of a person, as text |
METEOR identifier:![]() | 741853 |
Registration status:![]() | Health, Standard 15/02/2022 |
Definition:![]() | How a person describes their gender, as represented by text. |
Data Element Concept:![]() | Person—gender |
Value Domain:![]() | Text X[X(99)] |
Value domain attributes | ||
Representational attributes | ||
Representation class:![]() | Text | |
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Data type:![]() | String | |
Format:![]() | X[X(99)] | |
Maximum character length:![]() | 100 |
Data element attributes | |
Collection and usage attributes | |
Guide for use:![]() | Gender is a social and cultural concept. It is about social and cultural differences in identity, expression and experience as a man, boy, woman, girl, or non-binary person. Non-binary is an umbrella term describing gender identities that are not exclusively male or female. Gender includes the following concepts:
This data element may be used where CODE 4 "Different term" has been selected in the data element: Person—gender, code X. This data element may be used to capture any further (optional) specification of gender descriptors. The inclusion of this write-in facility where the "Different term" code has been selected for Person—gender, code X allows respondents the opportunity to describe their gender using a term they are comfortable with, whilst also maximising the potential for analysis of the responses provided. For example, respondents could report terms such as "gender diverse", "unspecified", "gender queer", "pan-gendered", "androgynous" and "inter-gender" for gender. Data element sets implementing this data element should include a Conditional obligation with the following text: "Conditional on a CODE 4: 'Different term' response in the data element: Person—gender, code X". |
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Comments:![]() | The terms sex and gender are interrelated, and are often used interchangeably, however they are distinct concepts:
While they are related concepts, caution should be exercised when comparing counts for sex with those for gender. A person's gender may stay the same or can change over the course of their lifetime. The gender response option chosen will reflect a person's gender at that point in time. Some people may not identify with a specific gender or with the concept of gender at all. “The preferred Australian Government approach is to collect and use gender information. Information regarding sex would ordinarily not be required and should only be collected where there is a legitimate need for that information and it is consistent with Australian Privacy Principle 3.” (AGD 2015) |
Source and reference attributes | |
Submitting organisation:![]() | Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. |
Origin:![]() | ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) 2021. Standard for sex, gender, variations of sex characteristics and sexual orientation variables. Canberra: ABS, viewed 6 October 2021 https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/standards/standard-sex-gender-variations-sex-characteristics-and-sexual-orientation-variables/latest-release AGD (Attorney-General's Department) 2015. Australian Government Guidelines on the Recognition of Sex and Gender, viewed 6 October 2021 https://www.ag.gov.au/rights-and-protections/publications/australian-government-guidelines-recognition-sex-and-gender |
Relational attributes | |
Related metadata references:![]() | Supersedes Person—gender, text X[X(99)] Health, Superseded 15/02/2022 See also Person—gender, code X Aged Care, Standard 30/06/2023 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Recorded 09/08/2023 Health, Standard 15/02/2022 |