Getting precise about gender and sex measurement: A primer for epidemiologists

Arjee J. Restar, Elle Lett, Neia Prata Menezes, Andrea R. Molino, Tonia Poteat, Lorraine T. Dean, Jennifer Glick, Kellan Baker, S. Wilson Cole

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Accurately measuring gender and sex is crucial in public health and epidemiology. Iteratively reexamining how variables - including gender and sex - are conceptualized and operationalized is necessary to achieve impactful research. Reexamining gender and sex advances epidemiology toward its goals of health promotion and disease elimination. While we cannot reduce the complexities of sex and gender to simply an issue of measurement, striving to capture these concepts and experiences accurately must be an ongoing dialogue and practice - to the benefit of the field and population health. We assert that epidemiology must counteract misconceptions and accurately measure gender and sex in epidemiology. We aim to summarize existing critiques and guiding principles in measuring gender and sex that can be applied in practice.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1861-1867
Number of pages7
JournalAmerican journal of epidemiology
Volume193
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2024

Keywords

  • gender
  • measurement
  • nonbinary
  • sex
  • transgender

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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