ESRA 2025 Preliminary Program

Monday 14 July    Tuesday 15 July    Wednesday 16 July    Thursday 17 July    Friday 18 July   

All time references are in CEST

Survey research beyond the binary - Exploring the potentials, challenges and consequences of alternative measures for assigned sex, gender identity/expression and sexual orientation
Session Organisers	Professor Stephanie Steinmetz (University of Lausanne) Dr Verena Ortmanns (DIE Bonn) Dr Lisa de Vries (Bielefeld University) Dr Angelo Moretti (Utrecht University) Dr Katharina Meitinger (Utrecht University) Professor Mirjam Fischer (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin)
Time	Wednesday 16 July, 16:00 - 17:30
Room	Ruppert 0.33

Awareness of gender diversity beyond the heteronormative male-female binary has grown rapidly in Western society. As recognition of diverse gender identities increases, the question of how to reflect this in surveys arises. With 39 out of 47 Council of Europe member countries now having legal processes in place to recognize trans and gender nonconforming (TGNC) people, this is a timely and necessary conversation. Using more inclusive measures in surveys not only promotes greater accuracy but also ensures a more equitable representation and visibility of gender diversity. It allows individuals to answer questions and define themselves according to their identity.
In this context, survey providers and population registers/censuses have shown a growing interest in more accurately capturing gender diversity in their data collection efforts in recent years. This shift, however, presents challenges and potentials for survey design, particularly for questions related to sex (assigned at birth), gender (expression and identity) and sexual orientation. These changes may also affect respondents' responses to other survey questions. A key issue is balancing the need for valid and reliable survey measures with the goal of being inclusive of gender-diverse populations, such as trans and non-binary individuals. Traditional survey methods may not adequately reflect this diversity, but new approaches may also pose challenges, particularly in terms of whether they are interpreted consistently by the general population.
Against this background, the session welcomes papers that provide practitioners, survey designers, and researchers interested in assessing assigned gender, gender identity/expression, and sexual orientation with new tools and measurement strategies; address the benefits and risks of including gender diversity in surveys and official registries/censuses while ensuring the validity and reliability of these measures; and/or address cross-cultural challenges, such as those related to translation. We especially welcome contributions that provide insights and perspectives

Keywords: sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, measurement, gender minority people

Papers

Beyond the Binary: Advancing Cross-National Measures of Gender Identity

Professor Amy Alexander (University of Gothenburg)
Professor Susan Banducci (University of Birmingham) - Presenting Author
Professor Hilde Coffe (University of Bath)
Professor Jessica Fortin-Rittberger (University of Salzburg)
Professor Marta Fraile Maldonado (CSIC)

This paper introduces a new cross-national measurement approach to capturing non-binary measures of gender identity, drawing on data from the ESS Round 11 module, “Gender in Contemporary Europe: Rethinking Equality and the Backlash.” By expanding beyond the conventional reliance on respondent sex, our study integrates self-assessments of masculinity/femininity and trait-based indicators in a single survey instrument. This innovation addresses a key gap in cross-national research: the need for measures that clarify how gender identity varies among individuals identifying as men or women—and how these nuanced variations relate to broader social and political dynamics across diverse cultural contexts. We operationalize gender identity in three ways. First, respondents provide overall self-assessments of their own masculinity and femininity, allowing them to locate themselves on separate scales rather than being forced into a binary choice. Drawing on past research (Nilsson & Holmberg 2006; Wängnerud et al. 2019), these single-item scales capture respondents’ subjective views of their gender identities without imposing a binary definition. Second, following the Bem Sex-Role Inventory, respondents rate four traits commonly characterized as either masculine (take risks, being a leader) or feminine (compassionate, sensitive to others). Third, we capture self-reported gender (“what best describe you”), the first time self-reported gender has been asked in the ESS. Prior studies have largely used only one of these measures and often in a single-country setting, hindering opportunities for meaningful cross-national comparisons.
We detail the development of these items for the ESS, analyse the measurement properties and examine how masculinity/femininity and traits are related to one another and self-reported gender identity and binary sex. We also report how these relationships vary across cultural contexts. Overall, we demonstrate that these measures provide a unique opportunity to refine our understanding of

Beyond Dichotomies: Examining Gender Differences in Attitudes using Continuous Measures of Gender Expression

Professor Stephanie Steinmetz (University of Lausanne) - Presenting Author
Dr Verena Ortmanns (DIE Bonn)

The recognition and inclusion of non-binary gender expressions in survey methodology are gaining momentum, reflecting a shift toward capturing gender diversity. Despite this progress, many researchers continue to rely on sex (assigned at birth) as a proxy for gender, even when gender expressions are explicitly measured. However, dichotomous measures have been shown to be inadequate for capturing the complexity of gender. In contrast, finer-grained, continuous approaches provide a more nuanced and accurate understanding of gender disparities. Recent studies have particularly highlighted the benefits of disaggregating gender expressions into two independent dimensions - masculinity and femininity. This approach allows respondents to more precisely articulate their gender expression. Previous research, for instance, underscores the variation within gender expressions, even among cisgender respondents. While femininity and masculinity often align with identifying as a woman or man, significant within-group variation exists. Adherence to traditional gender norms, such as masculine men and feminine women, is linked to higher marriage likelihood and a traditional family model, while gender nonconformity correlates with distinct health outcomes.
Against this backdrop, this paper explores the implications of using continuous, bi-dimensional scales for measuring masculinity and femininity, rather than dichotomous categories (e.g., men vs. women), to capture gender differences in attitudes toward gender roles and traditionalism. Using data from the German GESIS Panel and the Swiss MOSAiCH study, participants reported their sex assigned at birth, their gender identity using a non-dichotomous measure, and their degree of gender expression using bi-dimensional scales. The analysis also considers demographic characteristics and attitudes. The study aims to strengthen the case for finer-grained gender measures in (population-based) surveys by demonstrating how continuous measures better capture the diversity of gender experiences. With that, we seek to advance the methodological toolkit for studying gender differences and inequalities.

Gender indicators in population surveys: Measuring assigned sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, and gender expression

Dr Christina Bornatici (FORS - Swiss Centre of Expertise in the Social Sciences)
Mr Max Felder (FORS - Swiss Centre of Expertise in the Social Sciences) - Presenting Author
Dr Lavinia Gianettoni (University of Lausanne)
Mrs Roxane Mordasini (f EFORS - Swiss Centre oxpertise in the Social Sciences)
Professor Stephanie Steinmetz (University of Lausanne)

Gender differences are among the most scrutinized in social sciences analyses. Quantitative surveys commonly employ a single binary question to categorize respondents and study gender differences. However, this practice falls short in distinguishing between assigned sex and gender identity, resulting in mismeasurement and risking the essentialization of gender differences. This poses challenges, especially as society increasingly recognizes that assigned sex is distinct from gender identity, and these two aspects may not align within individuals.
Issues of gender identity inclusivity have become a major societal concern. It is increasingly recognized that biological sex is not dichotomic and may change over time, while gender identities are diverse, fluid, and expressed in various ways. Additionally, sexual orientation constitutes another layer of self-definition. Simply measuring a male/female dichotomy cannot capture this diversity, calling for more inclusive and comprehensive measures in quantitative surveys.
Our goal is to enhance inclusivity and precision in social science surveys by effectively measuring assigned sex, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation. This involves optimizing survey questions to provide a more comprehensive understanding. Using inclusive measures fosters more representative datasets, allowing individuals to define themselves according to their felt identity. Beyond fostering inclusivity, measuring these concepts with finer categories enables more refined analyses of inequalities.
Our paper examines current practices in Swiss and international social sciences surveys and present propositions for advancing gender measurement methodologies, discussing both challenges and opportunities in adopting more inclusive survey approaches.

Methodological approaches for measuring gender-role concept in cross-national studies

Dr Verena Ortmanns (German Institute for Adult Education - Leibniz Centre for Lifelong Learning) - Presenting Author
Dr Katharina Meitinger (Utrecht University)
Dr Angelo Moretti (Utrecht University)
Dr Ranjit K. Singh ( GESIS - Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences)

Gender is a multifaceted concept encompassing identity, expression, subjective experience, external perceptions, and performative behaviour, among other aspects. Despite its complexity, most surveys approach gender with a simplistic question such as, “Are you…?”, failing to specify which aspect of gender they aim to measure. Furthermore, response options are often restricted to binary categories (male and female), overlooking the nuanced and diverse nature of gender identities and concepts.
Previous research in Germany has shown that respondents can distinguish between different dimensions of gender and provide detailed self-assessments using continuous scales indicating the degree of being a man or woman or of femininity and masculinity. Building on this research, in the present study we implemented the full Traditional Masculinity-Femininity Scale (TMF), a six-item measure of individual’s gender-role self-concept. This scale captures a higher-order masculinity-femininity construct that transcends specific attributes, such as traits, interests, physical characteristics, or attitudes. However, this scale does not exclude variation on masculinity-femininity within a person depending on different social, temporal, or regional contexts. Moreover, this study expands previous research by conducting web-based surveys using non-probability samples in six countries: France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and the United States. The cross-national design enables us to analyze differences in response behaviors across cultural contexts.
We hope to demonstrate the complexity of gender concepts when survey response options allow for greater gradation. Results are presented for each country, examining whether respondents utilize the full range of the scale or cluster at its extremes. Furthermore, we explore the interplay between different layers of gender concepts and assess the sensitivity of responses to these nuanced dimensions.