I admit I was about got a bit of irritated subtweeting on this, but I'll move it into the mailing list. 

It is good and all that you responded to feedback, but I'd like to talk more about how to ask a survey question on gender. 

First, I'd like to point everyone to the great resource that the Human Right Campaign has put together on this topic:
https://www.hrc.org/resources/collecting-transgender-inclusive-gender-data-in-workplace-and-other-surveys

It's not perfect. For example, I disagree with their use of female/male instead of woman/man because that opens up a giant can of worms as to whether some terms are strictly biological versus social. It's a critical studies minefield pit at times. However, their approach and options are worth pointing out. 

Note that their recommended language is to use two questions. The first is similar to the one used in Rowan survey. It has five options: 
Woman
Man
Non-binary/third gender
Prefer to self-describe ____________
Prefer not to say

(I changed the language for the first two)

Note several important differences. First, the third option is not "Other" but specifically states "Non-binary/third gender." Other is not a great term to use when asking about someone's identity. It's problematic. It focuses on a person being so different you can't find the words. It's... um... OTHERING... literally. To help you understand why this is hurtful, take any diversity question (race, religion, gender, etc.) and take the entry you would select and change the text to Other. It casts you as so unimportant to not specify it. Your identity belongs in a junk drawer.

Also note that the question includes an option self-describe. Language is fluid, and identity language doubly-so. No fixed answer survey question for identity will ever be perfect. Let there be a self-description field. All good survey software allows such an option. And yes, this does make data analysis more complex, but that's the price in wanting to do research in human diversity. 

The HRC's second question asks if a person identifies as transgender? This is important as it complements the previous question. I'll use myself as an example. I am a trans woman. I identify as a woman and would answer such on the first question since it makes no distinction as to trans or cis status. I also identify as transgender as I see it as a different perspective on a being a woman than if I were cisgender. I would answer yes to the second question as I see it providing more info to the survey that may be relevant. But my answers alone would not be the only groupings you may see. This added question allows for more coverage of respondent answers.




Katherine Deibel | PhD
Inclusion & Accessibility Librarian
Syracuse University Libraries 
T 315.443.7178
[log in to unmask]
222 Waverly Ave., Syracuse, NY 13244
Syracuse University


-----Original Message-----
From: Code for Libraries <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of Sharon Whitfield
Sent: Friday, December 7, 2018 10:23 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Gender and Organizational Citizenship Behavior Survey in LIbrary Technology Departments

Good morning,
Based on survey feedback about gender being non-binary, I have added "Other" as an option to the question about gender identification. This feedback was greatly appreciated it. My apologies that the research survey was not as inconclusive as it should have been.

If you wish to participate in the survey, please click the following link:
https://rowan.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4GcTfQY07e6Wisl

Thanks,
Sharon Whitfield

Ed. D. Candidate

Rowan University
College of Education

On Fri, Dec 7, 2018 at 9:11 AM Sharon Whitfield <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

> Good Morning,
>
>
>
> You are invited to participate in an online research survey titled 
> Gender and Organizational Citizenship Behaviors in Library Technology Departments.
> You have received this email to participate because you are a member 
> of the Code4lib distribution list.
>
>
>
> The survey may take approximately 10-20 minutes to complete. Your 
> participation is voluntary.
>
>
>
> The purpose of this study is to address issues of organizational 
> justice for women technology librarians who experience the 
> gendered-nature of organizational citizenship behaviors (OCB). Organ 
> (1988) identified five specific OCB categories:
>
> -Altruism: Helps enhance an individual's performance
>
> -Conscientiousness: Consideration of others
>
> -Sportsmanship: Consideration of the organization as a team
>
> -Courtesy: prevents problems and maximizes time
>
> -Civic virtue: Serve the interests of the organization
>
>
>
> The goal of this study is to bring to light issues of organizational 
> justice for women technology librarians because of the gendered nature 
> of organizational citizenship behaviors and explore how change agents 
> may use this study to promote organizational justice for women 
> technology librarians. This research study focuses particularly on academic libraries.
>
>
>
> If you have any questions about the survey, you can contact Dr. Ane 
> Turner Johnson at 856-256-4500 x3818 or [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
> If you wish to participate, please click the following link:
> https://rowan.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4GcTfQY07e6Wisl
>
>
>
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Sharon Whitfield
>
> Ed. D. Candidate
>
> Rowan University
>
> College of Education
>
>
>
> Study has been approved by Rowan IRB. IRB# Pro2018000032
>
>
>
>
>
> Reference:
>
> Organ, D. W. (1988). Organizational citizenship behavior: The good 
> soldier
> syndrome: Lexington Books/DC Heath and Com.
>