Designing forms accessible to screen readers and keyboard navigation is an accessibility practice. To promote inclusivity, you might also include gender-inclusive options in forms. Instead of just “Male” and “Female” checkboxes, you could provide an open-ended field or a “Prefer not to say” option, acknowledging and respecting diverse gender identities.

In the ever-evolving landscape of web design, accessibility has become a fundamental principle that shapes how we create digital experiences. The goal is simple: make websites and web applications usable by as many people as possible, regardless of their abilities or circumstances. While designing accessible forms is a critical aspect of this endeavor, there’s another dimension to consider: gender inclusivity.

Understanding Accessibility

What is Web Accessibility?

Web accessibility refers to designing and developing websites and web applications that everyone, including people with disabilities, can use. It’s not just a good practice; it’s a legal requirement in the US and in many other countries.

Why is Accessibility Important?

Accessibility is not just about compliance; it’s about inclusion. An accessible website ensures all users have equal access to information and services, fostering a more inclusive digital world.

The Impact of Inaccessible Forms

Inaccessible forms can pose significant barriers to various user groups, including those with visual impairments who rely on screen readers and people with motor disabilities who navigate using keyboards. Ensuring that forms are accessible is ethical and beneficial for your website’s usability and reach.

The Basics of Accessible Forms

Core Principles of Accessible Form Design

Accessible forms adhere to several key principles:

  • Keyboard Navigation: Users should be able to navigate and interact with forms using only the keyboard.
  • Screen Reader Compatibility: Form elements must be properly labeled and structured for screen reader users.
  • Semantic HTML: Using appropriate HTML elements (labels, fieldsets, legends) enhances form accessibility.
  • ARIA Roles and Attributes: Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) can provide additional information to assistive technologies.

Challenges in Traditional Gender Options

Limitations of Binary Gender Options

Traditional forms often feature binary gender choices – “Male” and “Female.” However, this approach excludes individuals with diverse gender identities, such as non-binary, genderqueer, and transgender people.

Real-Life Impact

Consider the real-life implications of this binary choice. Being forced to select “Male” or “Female” can be alienating and uncomfortable for someone who identifies outside of these categories. It’s essential to recognize that your forms should respect and honor all gender identities.

Gender-Inclusive Options

To promote inclusivity, it’s crucial to provide gender-inclusive options in your forms. This means offering choices beyond the traditional binary selection.

Benefits of Gender-Inclusive Choices

  • Inclusivity: Everyone feels recognized and respected.
  • Reduced Bias: Avoid making assumptions about a person’s gender.
  • Compliance: Align with evolving legal and ethical standards.

Alternatives to Binary Gender Selection

  • Open-Ended Fields: Allow users to self-identify their gender.
  • “Prefer not to say” Option: Respect users’ privacy and comfort.
  • A List of Gender Identities: Offer a diverse range of options, such as “Non-binary,” “Genderqueer,” and “Transgender.”

Designing Gender-Inclusive Forms

Practical Tips for Implementation

  • Create an Open-Ended “Other” Field: This empowers users to input their gender identity freely.
  • Mind Your Wording: Use language that is inclusive, respectful, and clear.
  • Pre-Defined Lists: If you provide options, ensure they encompass a broad spectrum of gender identities.
  • User Education: Train your form moderators to handle diverse responses sensitively and respectfully.

User Feedback and Testing

User testing is essential for refining your forms’ inclusivity. It allows you to identify usability issues, ensure your forms work well with assistive technologies, and gather valuable feedback from diverse users.

In a study by Klaus-Scheuerman et. al. (2021) they offered participants the following five options (not all-inclusive but a representative sample of form types):

Image Description: Option 1 shows Gender (Select One) and Male and Female radio options. Option 2 shows Gender (Select One) with Male, Female, and Other as radio options. Option 3 shows Gender (Select One): with Male, Female, and Something Else (Open Text Box): as options with a text box. Option 4 shows Gender (Open Text Box): with a text field. Option 5 shows Gender (Select all that Apply): with checkbox options for Male, Female, Transgender (Female to Male), Transgender (Male to Female), Non-Binary, Intersex, and Other with an open text box.

Five gendered input form options, described before this image. Links to the study.

What their study found is that non-binary participants rated Option 1, Option 2, and Option 3 as significantly less comfortable than binary participants did across all three contexts. Option 1 was generally the least comfortable across all contexts. They described Option 4 as “the most inclusive, low to no stress.”

“Yet participants’ experiences of comfort were highly context dependant. For example, P-H14, a binary trans person, wrote, “Being able to control when [my trans identity] is shared makes seeing a doctor feel like a safer experience.” Other participants worried about reporting gender incorrectly on a dating app because people may “react violently” (P-D86) to finding out a person is trans after matching with them. Similarly, P-D11, another binary trans person, expressed disclosing their trans identity on dating apps to maintain safety: “I like people knowing I’m trans (and my specific identity) … before we start talking so I don’t accidentally end up speaking to someone transphobic.”” (Klaus-Scheuerman et. al., 2021)

Legal Considerations

Compliance with Laws and Regulations

Be aware of legal requirements related to gender inclusivity in your region. Violating these regulations can have serious consequences, both legally and in terms of reputation.

Creating accessible forms with gender-inclusive options is not just a design trend; it’s a critical step toward a more inclusive and equitable digital world. By understanding the principles of web accessibility, recognizing the limitations of binary gender choices, and implementing practical solutions, you can make a meaningful difference in the online experiences of diverse user groups.

I encourage you to embrace accessible, gender-inclusive form design in your web projects. It’s a step towards a more inclusive and welcoming online space for all.

Additional Resources

References

Klaus-Scheuerman, M., Jiang, A., Spiel, K., Brubaker, J. (2021). Revisiting gendered web forms: an evaluation of gender inputs with (non-) binary people. In CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI’21), May 8-13, 2021, Yokohama, Japan. ACM, New York, NY, USA 18 Pages. https://dl.acm.org/doi/fullHtml/10.1145/3411764.3445742