Identity Label Research Report

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Sean’s Legacy Phase 4

Mar 14, 2024

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Research Leads: Steffi Liem, Qianhui Hub

Research Apprentices: Kate Aid, Cassidy Reiff, Gretchen Johnson, Julianne Gless Valera

Content Apprentices: Alina Sukhova, Kajs Brown, Marissa Goodman

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Executive Summary

Previous UX Research has found that potential Thrive Out Loud (TOL) users want clear, inclusive wording when asked identity questions. This report synthesizes industry norms and provides recommendations on asking gender, sexual orientation, and race/ethnicity.

Note: identity is constantly evolving, so as our users grow and change, so must the TOL platform. Recommendations made in this report may need to be revised over time.

Proposed gender, sexual orientation, and race/ethnicity questions and labels are located on p.5, p.7, and p.9 of this report.

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Executive Summary (cont)

Key Takeaways and Recommendations: Gender, Sexual Orientation, Race/ethnicity

• Allow TOL users to select multiple response options, ideally without a limit
• Providing an LGBTQIA+ audience with an elaborate list of identity labels “allows sexual minorities to choose the identity label that best matches their identity” vs not selecting at all (Gallup)
• The options of “no label” (gender/sexual orientation), “not sure,” and “not listed (free text)”* have been commonly used across different platforms". These options are fundamentally different from one another and all need to be included
• *“There is no one way to be LGBTQ, nor is there one way to describe LGBTQ people” (Glaad). “Not listed (free text)” write in option gives TOL users the ability to further self identify
• Support TOL users in their evolving identity: clearly communicate the ability to edit selections
• Consider wording the questions in parallel way for all three identity categories (gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity and race) to reduce cognitive load
• Consider allowing mentees to efficiently answer profile creation questions alongside their equivalent matching QRE questions
• If users are able to skip a question, remind them to go back to it at a later time
• Identity questions have the potential to serve as a valuable hub for resources and information such as: definitions, links to sources, FAQ page, guidance and support for users

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Methodology

• UXR Lead initiate collaboration with UXW
• 4 UXR apprentices and 3 UXW apprentices collected data from competitor platforms and authorities on their chosen identity category: gender, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity. Data was then analyzed via a SWOT analysis
• UXR team synthesized key takeaways and recommendations
• UXR Leads generated this report

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SWOT analysis and collaborative work found here: Figjam Board.

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Gender: Recommendations

Gender Key Takeaway: List multiple variations as one entry where appropriate, and clarify abbreviations (e.g., “NB, Enby, Nonbinary,” “GNC, Gender Non-Conforming”)

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How do you describe your gender? Select all that apply.

You can change your selections at any time.

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Which gender identities do you prefer your mentor to have?Select all that apply.

Your responses will be used to recommend mentors to you. If you do not see enough recommended mentors, try changing your selections.

Original

Mentor POV: Onboarding - Min required info /

Mentee POV: Onboarding - Modals

Mentee POV: Find a Mentor - Match Questionnaire

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Proposed

Gender: Sources

Platforms: OutInTech, TrevorSpaces.org, SamAndDevorah.org, OkCupid, TransTech Social

Desk research: youth.gov, GLAAD - Media Reference Guide; National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center - Glossary of Terms for Healthcare Teams, US Passport / US Dept of State

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Sexual Orientation: Recommendations

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Which of the following best represents your sexual orientation?

Select all that apply. You can change your selections at any time.

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Which sexual orientation(s) do you prefer your mentor to have? Select all that apply.

Your responses will be used to recommend mentors to you. If you do not see enough recommended mentors, try changing your selections.

Original

Mentor POV: Onboarding - Min required info

Mentee POV: Find a Mentor - Match Questionnaire

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Proposed

Sexual Orientation: Sources

Platforms: StartOut, trevorspace

Desk research: Consortium of Higher Ed LGBT Resource Professionals, whitehouse.gov (Office of the Chief Statistician of the United States)

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Race/ethnicity: Recommendations

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Which of the following best represents your race or ethnicity ?

Select all that apply. You can change your selections at any time.

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What race or ethnicity do you prefer your mentor to have? Select all that apply.

Your responses will be used to recommend mentors to you. If you do not see enough recommended mentors, try changing your selections.

Original

Mentee POV: Find a Mentor - Match Questionnaire

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Proposed

Mentor POV: Onboarding - Min required info /

Mentee POV: Onboarding - Modals

Race/ethnicity: Sources

Platforms: Hinge, Coffee Meets Bagel

Desk Research: Dscout, U.S. Dept. of the Interior

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Supplemental research conducted after team analysis

Appendix

An additional idea for design layout:

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Detailed collaborative work found here: Figjam Board

We may want to explore the idea of combining profile creation and match questionnaire efficiently (for 2-3 min onboarding) by allowing selection for both “I identify with” and “I would like my mentor to identify with” in one place? Maybe with columns.

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UXD team might be helpful to refine this idea.