30 Gender Survey Questions: Crafting Inclusive, Insightful Surveys

Customer Persona & Feedback Surveys

Gender in the Customer Experience

Forget cookie-cutter demographics—a customer gender demographics approach in surveys means better segmentation and smarter marketing. Companies thrive when they see their audience as individuals with rich, diverse identities. How brands ask about gender determines if customers feel seen or overlooked.

When and Why to Use These Surveys

You’ll want to use these insights for:

• Fresh post-purchase feedback to improve offerings.
• Sign-up pages that collect optional, inclusive responses.
• Personalizing loyalty program experiences without invading privacy.
• Usability studies that check if your brand speaks to everyone.
• Ensuring compliance with privacy laws like GDPR and CCPA.

It’s about more than ticking boxes; it’s about building a culture of gender identity marketing that puts people first.

Sample Gender Questions for Customers

Ready to refine your message, imagery, and products? Here are inclusive sample questions:

1. How do you currently describe your gender?

   • Woman
     
   • Man
     
   • Non-binary
     
   • Gender-fluid
     
   • Prefer to self-describe: __________
     
   • Prefer not to say
     

2. Which pronouns do you prefer we use when communicating with you?

   • She/her
     
   • He/him
     
   • They/them
     
   • Other: __________
     
   • Prefer not to say
     

3. Does our product imagery reflect your gender identity?

   • Always
     
   • Sometimes
     
   • Rarely
     
   • Never
     

4. Rate how inclusive you find our brand’s gender representation.

   • Extremely inclusive
     
   • Very inclusive
     
   • Somewhat inclusive
     
   • Not very inclusive
     
   • Not at all inclusive
     

5. What can we do to make our offerings more gender-inclusive? (open-ended)

This approach makes customers feel valued, rather than market-tested. It also helps companies steer clear of gendered gaffes and deliver more personal experiences.

Including a gender pronoun question in surveys significantly increases satisfaction and comfort levels among genderqueer participants. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Academic & Social Science Research Surveys

Robust Data for a Changing World

In research, asking about gender isn’t just routine—it’s foundational for understanding social patterns and health trends. Yet terms and identities evolve, so the gender identity research survey has to keep pace. Scholars, IRBs, and community leaders need questions that honor both standardization and lived experience.

Why and When to Use

These surveys matter most for:

• IRB-approved social science or medical studies.
• Student or campus diversity questionnaires.
• Behavioral and community health research.
• Longitudinal studies comparing past and present identities.

Researchers balance comparability with past datasets and the need to use up-to-date, affirming language.

Sample Gender Questions for Academic Surveys

The two-step gender question method is considered best practice for clarity and inclusivity. Here’s how to ask:

1. What sex were you assigned at birth?

   • Female
     
   • Male
     
   • Prefer not to say
     

2. What is your current gender identity?

   • Woman
     
   • Man
     
   • Non-binary
     
   • Genderqueer
     
   • Prefer to self-describe: __________
     
   • Prefer not to say
     

3. Do you consider yourself non-binary, gender-fluid, or gender-queer?

   • Yes
     
   • No
     
   • Prefer not to say
     

4. How important is gender to your personal identity?

   • Extremely important
     
   • Very important
     
   • Somewhat important
     
   • Not very important
     
   • Not at all important
     

5. Have you experienced discrimination based on gender identity in the past 12 months?

   • Yes
     
   • No
     
   • Prefer not to say
     

6. Please share any additional comments about your gender identity. (open-ended)

These nuanced, respectful questions make research more meaningful and empower participants to share openly.

Healthcare & Patient Intake Surveys

Delivering Affirming, Accurate Care

In healthcare, how you ask about gender isn’t just about comfort—it’s about safety, personalization, and compliance. A thoughtful gender question in healthcare can improve everything from basic checkups to vital care decisions.

When and Why to Use

You’ll often see these questions on:

• Patient registration and intake forms.
• Telehealth profile creation and updates.
• EMR (Electronic Medical Record) data review.
• Mental health screenings and referrals.
• Clinics aligning with HIPAA, WPATH, and insurance billing needs.

Gender data ensures patients are treated with dignity and their medical needs are truly met.

Sample Gender Questions for Healthcare

Good patient surveys always let the individual take the lead with their information. Here’s what inclusive intake might look like:

1. Current gender identity:

   • Woman
     
   • Man
     
   • Non-binary
     
   • Transgender woman
     
   • Transgender man
     
   • Prefer to self-describe: __________
     
   • Prefer not to say
     

2. Pronouns patient uses:

   • She/her
     
   • He/him
     
   • They/them
     
   • Other: __________
     
   • Prefer not to say
     

3. Is your gender marker updated on your legal ID?

   • Yes
     
   • No
     
   • In process
     
   • Prefer not to say
     

4. Do you currently receive gender-affirming care/hormone therapy?

   • Yes
     
   • No
     
   • Prefer not to say
     

5. Are there any aspects of your care you would like us to address regarding your gender identity? (open-ended)

This approach helps clinics provide gender-affirming care, reduce anxiety, and meet regulatory guidelines with grace.

Implementing gender-inclusive language in health questionnaires enhances data reliability, validity, and response rates, while reducing the exclusion of gender minority groups. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Government & Policy Compliance Surveys

Formulating Policy Through Data

Public institutions serve everyone, so they need data that’s both comprehensive and inclusive. The government gender survey must meet standards for statistical accuracy and fairness, shaping laws, census counts, and anti-discrimination measures.

When and Why to Use

Government and policy surveys are crucial for:

• Conducting the national or local census.
• Assessing community service needs and gaps.
• Allocating funding fairly across populations.
• Public-sector hiring and EEO documentation.

The challenge? Balancing the need for data continuity with the imperative for progress in census gender question wording.

Sample Government Survey Gender Questions

Inclusivity and clear communication are the priority. Here are example questions:

1. What was your sex at birth?

   • Male
     
   • Female
     
   • Prefer not to say
     

2. Do you identify as transgender?

   • Yes
     
   • No
     
   • Prefer not to say
     

3. Which of the following best describes your gender identity today?

   • Woman
     
   • Man
     
   • Non-binary
     
   • Prefer to self-describe: __________
     
   • Prefer not to say
     

4. If you selected ‘Another gender,’ please specify: (open-ended)

5. Would you like to skip gender questions?

   • Yes
     
   • No
     

Such options ensure everyone’s counted comfortably—yet no one is forced to out themselves in an official record.

Event Registration & Membership Surveys

Making Events Welcoming for All

Who doesn’t love an event that thinks of everything? Gender questions for event registration guarantee inclusive experiences, from the badge you wear to the restroom signs you see. Event planners use these to support all guests with dignity and delight.

When and Why to Use

Events are more joyful—and less stressful—when they ask about gender for:

• Conference check-in and sports league registration.
• Membership sign-ups for clubs, societies, or online communities.
• Assigning names/pronouns for badges and communication.
• Ensuring access to inclusive restrooms and private spaces.
• Personalizing swag or seating arrangements.

It’s all about celebrating diversity while ensuring privacy and genuine choice.

Sample Gender Questions for Events

Here’s how you create a welcoming event for every attendee:

1. Name and pronouns for your badge: (open-ended)

2. Which gender-inclusive facilities (restrooms, changing rooms) would you require?

   • Gender-neutral restroom
     
   • Men’s restroom
     
   • Women’s restroom
     
   • Prefer not to say
     

3. Do you have accessibility needs related to gender expression?

   • Yes
     
   • No
     
   • Prefer to specify: __________
     
   • Prefer not to say
     

4. Which of these gender identities do you most align with?

   • Woman
     
   • Man
     
   • Non-binary
     
   • Prefer to self-describe: __________
     
   • Prefer not to say
     

5. Would you like to keep your gender identity confidential from other attendees?

   • Yes
     
   • No
     

This proactive approach means nobody has to ask for special treatment—they’re offered it as a standard.

Product & UX Research Surveys

Designing with Everyone in Mind

Product design inclusivity survey questions are magic for user experience teams. Whether you’re tweaking an app, a website, or a new gadget, how you ask about gender can reveal if your design works for everyone—or needs a big rethink.

When and Why to Use

Great times to ask about gender here include:

• Beta testing prototypes or features.
• A/B testing marketing or sign-up flows.
• Gathering feature requests with an empathy lens.
• Analyzing user feedback to root out bias in AI.

No one wants to build the next great app flop because their UX gender question examples missed the mark.

Sample Gender Questions for Product/UX Surveys

Genuine insights come from honest, comfortable questions. Check out these examples:

1. When an app asks your gender, which option formats feel most comfortable?

   • Short dropdown with options
     
   • Multi-select
     
   • Open-text response
     
   • Prefer not to say
     

2. Do you feel represented by the avatar choices provided?

   • Always
     
   • Sometimes
     
   • Rarely
     
   • Never
     

3. How often do gendered terms in microcopy affect your trust in a product?

   • Always
     
   • Often
     
   • Sometimes
     
   • Rarely
     
   • Never
     

4. Rate the inclusivity of our sign-up flow’s gender options.

   • Extremely inclusive
     
   • Very inclusive
     
   • Somewhat inclusive
     
   • Not very inclusive
     
   • Not at all inclusive
     

5. Which improvements would make this product more gender-affirming? (open-ended)

Smart product teams listen, learn, and iterate—making sure everyone feels like the product was made for them.

Best Practices: Dos and Don’ts for Gender Survey Questions

Dos for Crafting Inclusive Gender Questions

Follow these simple rules to boost respect and data quality in your surveys:

• Use the two-step method for clarity and inclusion.
• Always provide a ‘Prefer not to say’ option.
• Randomize the order of gender choices to minimize bias.
• Explain why you’re asking about gender to build trust.
• Guarantee confidentiality at every step.
• Test your language with real members of your target group.

Inclusive gender answer choices help everyone feel represented and respected. They also make for smoother legal compliance and better data analysis down the line.

Don’ts to Avoid When Asking About Gender

To keep your survey welcoming and insightful, steer clear of these mistakes:

• Never force binary choices—people are more than “M” or “F.”
• Avoid outdated or pejorative terminology.
• Don’t require a justification for a non-binary answer.
• Hold off on asking gender questions early in a survey, before providing context.
• Don’t overlook local or regional data privacy and anti-discrimination laws.

Knowing how to write inclusive survey questions means steering away from pitfalls and always keeping your audience in mind.

Quick Checklist for Effective Gender Questions

• Offer more than two choices (with a write-in option).
• Place sensitive questions later in the survey, unless legally required upfront.
• Regularly review your question wording for accuracy and inclusivity.
• Practice data minimization—don’t collect gender unless you genuinely need it.
• Commit to acting on feedback about your gender questions.

Keeping these best practices front and center will ensure your surveys are both respectful and powerful data-gathering tools.

Want your surveys to be a force for good? Inclusive gender survey questions are the secret sauce. Whether you’re in HR, marketing, research, or product design, how you ask matters—and being thoughtful is always on trend. Ask well, listen closely, and you’ll get data that truly makes a difference. The world (and your respondents) will thank you.