DATA ON RACE, ETHNICITY AND GENDER - CAVEATS FOR THE USER

Are data sets reliable? Only if users read the small print annexes giv ing the details of data collections. The author takes an iconoclastic approach to major (mostly US) census and other data, to illustrate lik ely pitfalls. Changes in definition and fashion of racial or ethnic ca tegories blur the picture. Classification by sex is simple, but gender awareness requires greater detail for a finer analysis of data on hou sehold composition, paid and unpaid work, occupation, employment statu s, and poverty. The composition of the labour force is unknown. So, us er beware.