Sexual orientation and gender identity inclusion in surveys 

SBI contributors 

Dr. Arne Bethmann, Charlotte Hunsicker, Frankie Sorenson

Project description

Current longitudinal studies often treat gender as fixed and apparent, conflating sex assigned at birth (SAB) with lived gender, and frequently overlooking non-binary, transgender, and intersex identities.

This project implements a harmonized, cross-national, multi-lingual, qualitative test of sexual orientation/gender identity (SOGI) items to inform application and innovation across longitudinal studies of older persons. Our goal is to improve the measurement of gender and sexual identity in longitudinal studies of ageing, focusing on individuals aged 50 and older across diverse cultural and linguistic contexts in Europe, with further practical applications within longitudinal studies of ageing.

This project will synthesize the state of the art in longitudinal ageing studies, identifying best practices such as the two-step approach to gender identity and SAB. Crucially, this project aims to address existing gaps by testing identified gender and sexual identity item variations, exploring the potential of gender inclusive items to yield more accurate and representative data of older persons. In particular, this project aims to collect data to address assumptions of intolerance to SOGI amongst the 50+ population.

The project’s broader significance lies in the potential to provide better insights into the health, social support, and aging experiences of both cisgender and transgender older adults, informing more inclusive policies and services across Europe. Additionally, as we incorporate an international network of NGOs focused on ageing across Europe, we set the groundwork for great collaborative research across sectors, with inclusion of the population of interest. 

Status

Active

Selected publications 

N/A