Events

Abstract: On 17^th March 2021, just four days from the England and Wales Census date, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) conceded in a Judicial Review case.  The case concerned the meaning of the sex question in the census, and the guidance accompanying this question. How did the ONS end up in court defending its guidance on a question which most people would deem self-explanatory? In this presentation, I will draw on a previous paper “Sex and the Census: why surveys should not conflate sex and gender identity”, and a paper that I am currently working on, which explores the policy capture process. Drawing on both my own experiences and information from FOI requests, I will argue that ONS gave undue weight to lobby groups with a particular viewpoint on sex and gender identity.  

The Sociology Seminar Series for Hilary Term is convened by Nicholas Martindale. For more information about this or any of the seminars in the series, please contact sociology.secretary@nuffield.ox.ac.uk.