u/Best_Management_551

Answering demographic questions on applications to maximize chances while still technically being correct

I am a Ph.D. student, so I have a history of filling out applications for government funding or graduate school. These applications frequently contain questions about gender and sexuality.

I would describe myself as anti-label with respect to my gender. I am comfortable being called basically anything. I think outwardly I seem like a cis guy, but some queer people have described me as being agender (and I think this is reasonable). If you want to get into microlabels, some terms that might describe me are "gender apathetic" or "cis by default". I don't really feel strongly about any of these things.

Is it ethical for me to choose my answer to a question about gender based on what I think the reviewer is looking for? For example, when submitting an application to a program that makes diversity one of its goals, I might list myself as agender. Whereas when applying to a grant from the US government, I would list myself as male so the current administration™ doesn't think I'm woke.

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u/Best_Management_551 — 3 days ago