Globally, some nations start to replace “sex” with “gender identity” while producing national sex statistics. As a result, the collected data are inaccurate even if unreliable. The most obvious example is the statistics of crimes. When a male sex offender is categorized into the female group, news reporters have no choice but to refer to the party as a female/ woman. Thus, the public can only recognize the criminal’s gender identity rather than his/ her sex.
In Taiwan, the Judicial Yuan passed the amendments to The Code of Criminal Procedure and Enforcement Act of the Code of Criminal Procedure in 2021. For the purpose of “respecting one’s gender identity”, the party’s sex will be removed from judgements. As a result, the scholars who do researches on sex differences in crimes will be unable to access to the information about sex.
How will Taiwan’s future look like?
Inaccurate, Unreliable Academic Researches and Making of Policies
Academic researches and making of policies depend on reliable sources
Categorizing “a trans-identified male” into the female group will produce inaccurate and unreliable national sex statistics, e.g. it may seem that “[sex and] gender equality” is better achieved. Also, the vulnerable women will not be noticed in the statistics hence their voices are harder to be heard. Taiwan’s [sex and] gender statistics include:
- The Executive Yuan’s Department of Gender Equality: Gender Graphics
- The Executive Yuan’s Department of Gender Equality: Important Databases of Gender Statistics
- The Ministry of the Interior’s National Police Agency: Analysis of Gender Statistics
- The Ministry of Justice: Gender Statistics
- The Judicial Yuan: Gender Statistics
- The 4th report on the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
Furthermore, when the information of sex is concealed, academic researches will be influenced as well. For the purpose of “respecting one’s gender identity”, the Judicial Yuan has passed the amendments to The Code of Criminal Procedure and Enforcement Act of the Code of Criminal Procedure; thus, the party’s sex will be removed from judgements. In fact, judgements are very important for the people who do researches on crimes and justice, e.g. “An Analysis of Not-Guilty Verdicts: A Focus on Sex Crimes”. If the information of sex is not showed in judgements, there will be a lack of researches on “gender”.
Sex Differences in Market Surveys, Statistical Data, and Body Product Development
Market surveys, statistical data, and body product development (like shampoo, shower cream, and feminine wash, etc.) will be inaccurate even if unreliable when sex is replaced with gender identity in the production of statistics.
Some materials are added to specific face wash products for certain effects. It is likely that dermatologists recommend specific products to their patients. However, if the patient’s sex is unknown, the problems of hormone imbalance may be caused.
Hair textures of males and females are different, e.g. pattern of getting greasy, extent of thickness and softness, etc. If the customer’s sex is unknown, it is very likely that a wrong product will be given to.
