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	The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 269 No 7216 p392-394 21 September 2002	This page Reprint Photocopy
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Workforce census

Categories in census were different for Scotland

A wrong assumption and sloppy use of "gender"

Categories in census were different for Scotland

From Mr F. M. Hickey, MRPharmS

We are informed that the "ethnic origin" section of the pharmacy workforce census is the same as that used in the 2001 National Census and that "pharmacists should tick the category they ticked on the National Census" (PJ, 14 September, p378). I have found this impossible because these categories were used in England and Wales, but not in Scotland.

It should be a cause for regret for all decent minded people that England ceased to exist in 1707. I wish the indigenous population of that part of this island known subsequently as South Britain every encouragement in a journey of national rediscovery.

Findlay Hickey
Edinburgh

A wrong assumption and sloppy use of "gender"

From Dr S. H. Scott, FRPharmS

It would be better if a body like the Royal Pharmaceutical Society got things right. The workforce census form assumes that every registered pharmacist has a university degree in pharmacy. I have no such degree.

Since our education uses much biological science, it would be better not to misuse the word "gender" and to amplify this by assuming that "male" and "female" are attributes of gender. Gender has "masculine" and "feminine" among its attributes. Such misuse is one of today's sloppy usages.

Sidney H. Scott
Watford, Hertfordshire

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society's practice division replies:

We apologise for the inaccurate wording of question 5 on the workforce census. We are aware that the profession became degree-only entry in 1970 and recognise that many registered pharmacists hold other qualifications. It would be helpful if those pharmacists who do not have a degree could note the qualification they hold (eg, pharmaceutical chemist) and where they studied under question 5.

With regard to the use of the word "gender" we recognise that the scientific meaning is as Dr Scott describes. However, in modern usage it is used as a euphemism for the sex of a human being (Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed, 1989, p428) and is customarily used in this way on surveys.

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