The choices for race, sex, etc. self-identification are usually mandated by the government service that is requesting the data. For example, the EEOC defines [1

The choices for race, sex, etc. self-identification are usually mandated by the government service that is requesting the data. For example, the EEOC defines [1] the racial categories for the form your employer asks you to fill out. Your employer is required to report the demographics of its employees using the prescribed categories. It is preferred that the employee volunteers this information themselves, but they cannot provide an arbitrary self-description. [1]: https://eeocdata.org/pdfs/2023_EEO_1_Component_1_Instruction_Booklet.pdf#page12 https://eeocdata.org/pdfs/2023_EEO_1_Component_1_Instruction...