Sex at Birth
The question:
When youth are provided with the sociodemographic questionnaire at the hub, the question they receive related to their sex assigned at birth is:
| What was your sex at birth? |
|---|
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Note:
- Sex (assigned) at birth: refers to the label one is given at birth based on physiological factors, including hormones, chromosomes, and genitalia. Most people are assigned male or female, as per socially constructed and medicalized standards. This is what is typically documented on birth certificates.
Key Message:
- Sex (assigned) at birth is different from gender identity.
- When it comes to gender and sexual diversity, there is the need to challenge binary thinking. Previously, the conventional thinking was that sex and gender were binary, meaning that a person could only be one or the other. Presently, there is an understanding that there is diversity in all aspects of gender and sexuality, with terms and definitions in 2SLGBTQ+ communities continuing to change and evolve over time.
- Please review the 2SGLBTQ+ Glossary of Terms and the Gender Elephant with more detailed definitions and knowledge. These terms and definitions are and should not be standardized, and may be used differently by different people and in different regions.
Rationale for this question:
- There are potential healthcare implications and safety concerns if biological sex isn’t clearly recorded on medical records to orient care providers to specific medical needs.
- Having this information can help plan for appropriate medical needs, especially related to both sexual and reproductive health care needs.
Important Considerations:
- Some youth may find this question intrusive. Gender diverse, gender non-conforming, and trans youth, may be concerned about who will have access to this information. Youth should always have the option to skip the question and should be reassured that their data will be handled in the same manner as all of their other sensitive information.
- Sex at birth and gender refer to two different but interrelated concepts. While sex at birth is primarily understood in terms of physical and biological features such as chromosomes, genitalia and hormones, gender is a multidimensional concept that is influenced by several additional factors, including cultural and behavioural norms, and self-identity.
Responding to youth asking why they are being asked this question:
- Having this information can help in planning for appropriate medical needs, especially as it relates to sexual and reproductive health.
