Data collection

The 2021 census, and other data collection exercises should collect robust data on sex.

Why the contribution is important

The Covid-19 pandemic is impacting on different protected groups in different ways. It appears that the mortality rate for men is higher than it is for women, and that those from black and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds are over-represented amongst fatalities. Socio-economic impacts are being shouldered heavily by women for a number of reasons, including their dominance in the health and social care sector and the fact that the care gap is often filled by women when other forms of care are no longer available.

We are concerned that public authorities are either conflating or replacing data on sex with data on gender identity. Robust and reliable data on sex is needed to properly understand how Covid-19 impcts differently on men and women.

Our submission to Women and Equalities Committee inquiry on data collection and the impact of Covid-19 can be accessed here:
https://murrayblackburnmackenzie.org/2020/05/05/mbm-submission-to-women-and-equalities-committee-inquiry-on-the-impact-of-covid-19-on-protected-groups/

by mbmpolicy on May 05, 2020 at 04:46PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.1
Based on: 7 votes

Comments

  • Posted by datanerd May 05, 2020 at 19:19

    Data is going to be critical to our ability to respond to this pandemic. Is the Scottish Government collecting sex disaggregated data about the number of cases and deaths?

  • Posted by ShaziaR May 07, 2020 at 15:14

    We really need the SG to collect and publish official data on the numbers of people from an ethnic minority background who are dying of covid-19 - only then can we begin to unpick the myriad of reasons as to why that is happening.
    We also need the SG to give more assurance to the BAME communities - by prioritising testing of BAME people in front line services and prioritising provision of PPE.
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