They are used for demographics that are required by federal law for some business’, for example filling out an application for a loan, they have to collect this information so they can prove they offer services to everyone regardless of race or gender. I realize that this is a joke from but most of the list include Male, Female, Other (with an input field), and prefer not to say. In case you wanted to know.
Comment on gender selection
skullgiver@popplesburger.hilciferous.nl 1 year ago
Even the joke ones don’t provide a “none of your business” option. Why are web forms so obsessed with gender?
I just pick one at random, 99.9% of the time these websites have no need to collect this info in the first place.
eselover@lemmy.world 1 year ago
LostDeer@infosec.pub 1 year ago
I think it was for early demographics data collection. Same with asking about skin color, age, etc.
(Btw I identify as “household pet walking across the keyboard - other” with pronouns get/down)
gmtom@lemmy.world 1 year ago
It literally says “prefer not to say” at the bottom.
redballooon@lemm.ee 1 year ago
Which is totally different from “none of your business”
Cqrd@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 year ago
It’s actually exactly the same, but not rude to people who take things offensively. It’s cool that you’d appreciate that option, but not everyone would like it expressed that way and websites have to appeal to everyone.
FWIW, at least as far as the US govt is concerned and these statistics are required for diversity data, “Prefer not to say” is counted as Male.
owatnext@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Wow that’s interesting! How did you find that out?