diff --git a/app/models/validations/household_validations.rb b/app/models/validations/household_validations.rb
index 0c4f2ca40..7b0595ac2 100644
--- a/app/models/validations/household_validations.rb
+++ b/app/models/validations/household_validations.rb
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ private
     (1..8).any? do |n|
       next if record["sex#{n}"].nil? || record["age#{n}"].nil?
 
-      (record["sex#{n}"])&.zero? && record["age#{n}"] >= 16 && record["age#{n}"] <= 50
+      (record["sex#{n}"]) == "F" && record["age#{n}"] >= 16 && record["age#{n}"] <= 50
     end
   end
 
@@ -160,10 +160,10 @@ private
     economic_status = record.public_send("ecstat#{person_num}")
     return unless age && economic_status && gender
 
-    if gender == 1 && economic_status == 4 && age < 65
+    if gender == "M" && economic_status == 4 && age < 65
       record.errors.add "age#{person_num}", I18n.t("validations.household.age.retired_male")
     end
-    if gender && gender.zero? && economic_status == 4 && age < 60
+    if gender == "F" && economic_status == 4 && age < 60
       record.errors.add "age#{person_num}", I18n.t("validations.household.age.retired_female")
     end
   end
diff --git a/config/forms/2021_2022.json b/config/forms/2021_2022.json
index e122924d1..8845c4c8c 100644
--- a/config/forms/2021_2022.json
+++ b/config/forms/2021_2022.json
@@ -1136,16 +1136,16 @@
                   "hint_text": "",
                   "type": "radio",
                   "answer_options": {
-                    "0": {
+                    "F": {
                       "value": "Female"
                     },
-                    "1": {
+                    "M": {
                       "value": "Male"
                     },
-                    "2": {
+                    "X": {
                       "value": "Non-binary"
                     },
-                    "3": {
+                    "R": {
                       "value": "Prefer not to say"
                     }
                   }
@@ -1427,16 +1427,16 @@
                   "hint_text": "",
                   "type": "radio",
                   "answer_options": {
-                    "0": {
+                    "F": {
                       "value": "Female"
                     },
-                    "1": {
+                    "M": {
                       "value": "Male"
                     },
-                    "2": {
+                    "X": {
                       "value": "Non-binary"
                     },
-                    "3": {
+                    "R": {
                       "value": "Prefer not to say"
                     }
                   }
@@ -1518,16 +1518,16 @@
                   "hint_text": "",
                   "type": "radio",
                   "answer_options": {
-                    "0": {
+                    "F": {
                       "value": "Female"
                     },
-                    "1": {
+                    "M": {
                       "value": "Male"
                     },
-                    "2": {
+                    "X": {
                       "value": "Non-binary"
                     },
-                    "3": {
+                    "R": {
                       "value": "Prefer not to say"
                     }
                   }
@@ -1609,16 +1609,16 @@
                   "hint_text": "",
                   "type": "radio",
                   "answer_options": {
-                    "0": {
+                    "F": {
                       "value": "Female"
                     },
-                    "1": {
+                    "M": {
                       "value": "Male"
                     },
-                    "2": {
+                    "X": {
                       "value": "Non-binary"
                     },
-                    "3": {
+                    "R": {
                       "value": "Prefer not to say"
                     }
                   }
@@ -1700,16 +1700,16 @@
                   "hint_text": "",
                   "type": "radio",
                   "answer_options": {
-                    "0": {
+                    "F": {
                       "value": "Female"
                     },
-                    "1": {
+                    "M": {
                       "value": "Male"
                     },
-                    "2": {
+                    "X": {
                       "value": "Non-binary"
                     },
-                    "3": {
+                    "R": {
                       "value": "Prefer not to say"
                     }
                   }
@@ -1791,16 +1791,16 @@
                   "hint_text": "",
                   "type": "radio",
                   "answer_options": {
-                    "0": {
+                    "F": {
                       "value": "Female"
                     },
-                    "1": {
+                    "M": {
                       "value": "Male"
                     },
-                    "2": {
+                    "X": {
                       "value": "Non-binary"
                     },
-                    "3": {
+                    "R": {
                       "value": "Prefer not to say"
                     }
                   }
@@ -1881,16 +1881,16 @@
                   "hint_text": "",
                   "type": "radio",
                   "answer_options": {
-                    "0": {
+                    "F": {
                       "value": "Female"
                     },
-                    "1": {
+                    "M": {
                       "value": "Male"
                     },
-                    "2": {
+                    "X": {
                       "value": "Non-binary"
                     },
-                    "3": {
+                    "R": {
                       "value": "Prefer not to say"
                     }
                   }
@@ -1971,16 +1971,16 @@
                   "hint_text": "",
                   "type": "radio",
                   "answer_options": {
-                    "0": {
+                    "F": {
                       "value": "Female"
                     },
-                    "1": {
+                    "M": {
                       "value": "Male"
                     },
-                    "2": {
+                    "X": {
                       "value": "Non-binary"
                     },
-                    "3": {
+                    "R": {
                       "value": "Prefer not to say"
                     }
                   }
diff --git a/db/migrate/20220221181805_integer_fields.rb b/db/migrate/20220221181805_integer_fields.rb
index 6775b550e..69b9c4764 100644
--- a/db/migrate/20220221181805_integer_fields.rb
+++ b/db/migrate/20220221181805_integer_fields.rb
@@ -1,22 +1,6 @@
 class IntegerFields < ActiveRecord::Migration[7.0]
   def up
     change_table :case_logs, bulk: true do |t|
-      t.remove :sex1
-      t.column :sex1, :integer
-      t.remove :sex2
-      t.column :sex2, :integer
-      t.remove :sex3
-      t.column :sex3, :integer
-      t.remove :sex4
-      t.column :sex4, :integer
-      t.remove :sex5
-      t.column :sex5, :integer
-      t.remove :sex6
-      t.column :sex6, :integer
-      t.remove :sex7
-      t.column :sex7, :integer
-      t.remove :sex8
-      t.column :sex8, :integer
       t.remove :relat2
       t.column :relat2, :integer
       t.remove :relat3
@@ -42,22 +26,6 @@ class IntegerFields < ActiveRecord::Migration[7.0]
 
   def down
     change_table :case_logs, bulk: true do |t|
-      t.remove :sex1
-      t.column :sex1, :string
-      t.remove :sex2
-      t.column :sex2, :string
-      t.remove :sex3
-      t.column :sex3, :string
-      t.remove :sex4
-      t.column :sex4, :string
-      t.remove :sex5
-      t.column :sex5, :string
-      t.remove :sex6
-      t.column :sex6, :string
-      t.remove :sex7
-      t.column :sex7, :string
-      t.remove :sex8
-      t.column :sex8, :string
       t.remove :relat2
       t.column :relat2, :string
       t.remove :relat3
diff --git a/db/schema.rb b/db/schema.rb
index 2974fc952..058a2593e 100644
--- a/db/schema.rb
+++ b/db/schema.rb
@@ -179,14 +179,14 @@ ActiveRecord::Schema[7.0].define(version: 202202071123100) do
     t.boolean "is_previous_la_inferred"
     t.integer "letting_allocation_unknown"
     t.integer "renttype"
-    t.integer "sex1"
-    t.integer "sex2"
-    t.integer "sex3"
-    t.integer "sex4"
-    t.integer "sex5"
-    t.integer "sex6"
-    t.integer "sex7"
-    t.integer "sex8"
+    t.string "sex1"
+    t.string "sex2"
+    t.string "sex3"
+    t.string "sex4"
+    t.string "sex5"
+    t.string "sex6"
+    t.string "sex7"
+    t.string "sex8"
     t.integer "relat2"
     t.integer "relat3"
     t.integer "relat4"
diff --git a/spec/factories/case_log.rb b/spec/factories/case_log.rb
index 897f5e082..4af3601e1 100644
--- a/spec/factories/case_log.rb
+++ b/spec/factories/case_log.rb
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ FactoryBot.define do
     trait :conditional_section_complete do
       tenant_code { "TH356" }
       age1 { 34 }
-      sex1 { 1 }
+      sex1 { "M" }
       ethnic { 2 }
       national { 4 }
       ecstat1 { 2 }
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ FactoryBot.define do
       tenant_code { "BZ737" }
       postcode { "NW1 7TY" }
       age1 { 35 }
-      sex1 { 0 }
+      sex1 { "F" }
       ethnic { 2 }
       national { 4 }
       prevten { 6 }
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ FactoryBot.define do
       hhmemb { 2 }
       relat2 { 0 }
       age2 { 32 }
-      sex2 { 1 }
+      sex2 { "M" }
       ecstat2 { 5 }
       homeless { 1 }
       underoccupation_benefitcap { 0 }
diff --git a/spec/features/form/check_answers_page_spec.rb b/spec/features/form/check_answers_page_spec.rb
index 790de7333..c86b57970 100644
--- a/spec/features/form/check_answers_page_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/features/form/check_answers_page_spec.rb
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ RSpec.describe "Form Check Answers Page" do
 
     it "displays answers given by the user for the question in the subsection" do
       fill_in_number_question(empty_case_log.id, "age1", 28, "person-1-age")
-      choose("case-log-sex1-2-field")
+      choose("case-log-sex1-x-field")
       click_button("Save and continue")
       visit("/logs/#{empty_case_log.id}/#{subsection}/check-answers")
       expect(page).to have_content("28")
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ RSpec.describe "Form Check Answers Page" do
           managing_organisation: user.organisation,
           tenant_code: "123",
           age1: 35,
-          sex1: 1,
+          sex1: "M",
           other_hhmemb: 0,
         )
       end
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ RSpec.describe "Form Check Answers Page" do
           managing_organisation: user.organisation,
           tenant_code: "123",
           age1: 35,
-          sex1: 1,
+          sex1: "M",
           other_hhmemb: 0,
           armedforces: 3,
           illness: 0,
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ RSpec.describe "Form Check Answers Page" do
           managing_organisation: user.organisation,
           tenant_code: "123",
           age1: 35,
-          sex1: 1,
+          sex1: "M",
           other_hhmemb: 0,
           armedforces: 3,
           illness: 0,
diff --git a/spec/features/form/page_routing_spec.rb b/spec/features/form/page_routing_spec.rb
index 596362467..829532831 100644
--- a/spec/features/form/page_routing_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/features/form/page_routing_spec.rb
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ RSpec.describe "Form Page Routing" do
 
   it "can route based on multiple conditions", js: true do
     visit("/logs/#{id}/person-1-gender")
-    choose("case-log-sex1-0-field", allow_label_click: true)
+    choose("case-log-sex1-f-field", allow_label_click: true)
     click_button("Save and continue")
     expect(page).to have_current_path("/logs/#{id}/household-number-of-other-members")
     visit("/logs/#{id}/conditional-question")
diff --git a/spec/features/form/saving_data_spec.rb b/spec/features/form/saving_data_spec.rb
index f713dd316..9bea5515d 100644
--- a/spec/features/form/saving_data_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/features/form/saving_data_spec.rb
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ RSpec.describe "Form Saving Data" do
     {
       tenant_code: { type: "text", answer: "BZ737", path: "tenant_code" },
       age1: { type: "numeric", answer: 25, path: "person_1_age" },
-      sex1: { type: "radio", answer: { 0 => "Female" }, path: "person_1_gender" },
+      sex1: { type: "radio", answer: { "F" => "Female" }, path: "person_1_gender" },
       other_hhmemb: { type: "numeric", answer: 2, path: "household_number_of_other_members" },
     }
   end
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ RSpec.describe "Form Saving Data" do
       when "text"
         fill_in("case-log-#{question.to_s.dasherize}-field", with: answer)
       when "radio"
-        choose("case-log-#{question.to_s.dasherize}-#{hsh[:answer].keys.first}-field")
+        choose("case-log-#{question.to_s.dasherize}-#{hsh[:answer].keys.first.downcase}-field")
       else
         fill_in("case-log-#{question.to_s.dasherize}-field", with: answer)
       end
diff --git a/spec/fixtures/complete_case_log.json b/spec/fixtures/complete_case_log.json
index 69931ecfc..e4f573132 100644
--- a/spec/fixtures/complete_case_log.json
+++ b/spec/fixtures/complete_case_log.json
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   "case_log": {
     "tenant_code": "T657",
     "age1": 35,
-    "sex1": 0,
+    "sex1": "F",
     "ethnic": 0,
     "national": 0,
     "prevten": 6,
@@ -13,31 +13,31 @@
     "hhmemb": 8,
     "relat2": 0,
     "age2": 32,
-    "sex2": 1,
+    "sex2": "M",
     "ecstat2": 5,
     "relat3": 1,
     "age3": 12,
-    "sex3": 1,
+    "sex3": "M",
     "ecstat3": 8,
     "relat4": 1,
     "age4": 12,
-    "sex4": 0,
+    "sex4": "F",
     "ecstat4": 8,
     "relat5": 1,
     "age5": 10,
-    "sex5": 2,
+    "sex5": "X",
     "ecstat5": 8,
     "relat6": 1,
     "age6": 5,
-    "sex6": 3,
+    "sex6": "R",
     "ecstat6": 8,
     "relat7": 1,
     "age7": 5,
-    "sex7": 3,
+    "sex7": "R",
     "ecstat7": 8,
     "relat8": 1,
     "age8": 2,
-    "sex8": 3,
+    "sex8": "R",
     "ecstat8": 8,
     "homeless": 2,
     "reason": 1,
diff --git a/spec/fixtures/exports/case_logs.xml b/spec/fixtures/exports/case_logs.xml
index 6a813f5c3..12ba8c470 100644
--- a/spec/fixtures/exports/case_logs.xml
+++ b/spec/fixtures/exports/case_logs.xml
@@ -141,8 +141,8 @@
     <is_previous_la_inferred>false</is_previous_la_inferred>
     <letting_allocation_unknown/>
     <renttype>2</renttype>
-    <sex1>0</sex1>
-    <sex2>1</sex2>
+    <sex1>F</sex1>
+    <sex2>M</sex2>
     <sex3/>
     <sex4/>
     <sex5/>
diff --git a/spec/fixtures/forms/2021_2022.json b/spec/fixtures/forms/2021_2022.json
index cabe7025f..db9d8a78b 100644
--- a/spec/fixtures/forms/2021_2022.json
+++ b/spec/fixtures/forms/2021_2022.json
@@ -48,16 +48,16 @@
                     "header": "Which of these best describes the tenant’s gender identity?",
                     "type": "radio",
                     "answer_options": {
-                      "0": {
+                      "F": {
                         "value": "Female"
                       },
-                      "1": {
+                      "M": {
                         "value": "Male"
                       },
-                      "2": {
+                      "X": {
                         "value": "Non-binary"
                       },
-                      "3": {
+                      "R": {
                         "value": "Prefer not to say"
                       }
                     }
@@ -109,16 +109,16 @@
                     "header": "Which of these best describes person 2’s gender identity?",
                     "type": "radio",
                     "answer_options": {
-                      "0": {
+                      "F": {
                         "value": "Female"
                       },
-                      "1": {
+                      "M": {
                         "value": "Male"
                       },
-                      "2": {
+                      "X": {
                         "value": "Non-binary"
                       },
-                      "3": {
+                      "R": {
                         "value": "Prefer not to say"
                       }
                     }
@@ -438,7 +438,7 @@
                     }
                   }
                 },
-                "depends_on": [{ "preg_occ": 1, "sex1": 1 }]
+                "depends_on": [{ "preg_occ": 1, "sex1": "M" }]
               }
             }
           }
diff --git a/spec/models/case_log_spec.rb b/spec/models/case_log_spec.rb
index 9acc164d4..940d01fc6 100644
--- a/spec/models/case_log_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/case_log_spec.rb
@@ -573,7 +573,7 @@ RSpec.describe CaseLog do
       end
 
       it "does clear the value for answers that do not apply for invalidated page" do
-        case_log.update!({ wchair: 1, sex2: 0, age2: 33 })
+        case_log.update!({ wchair: 1, sex2: "F", age2: 33 })
         case_log.update!({ cbl: 0 })
         case_log.update!({ preg_occ: 0 })
 
diff --git a/spec/models/validations/household_validations_spec.rb b/spec/models/validations/household_validations_spec.rb
index 543692f04..12d692e9c 100644
--- a/spec/models/validations/household_validations_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/validations/household_validations_spec.rb
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ RSpec.describe Validations::HouseholdValidations do
     context "when there are no female tenants" do
       it "validates that pregnancy cannot be yes" do
         record.preg_occ = 0
-        record.sex1 = 1
+        record.sex1 = "M"
         household_validator.validate_pregnancy(record)
         expect(record.errors["preg_occ"])
           .to include(match I18n.t("validations.household.preg_occ.no_female"))
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ RSpec.describe Validations::HouseholdValidations do
 
       it "validates that pregnancy cannot be prefer not to say" do
         record.preg_occ = 2
-        record.sex1 = 1
+        record.sex1 = "M"
         household_validator.validate_pregnancy(record)
         expect(record.errors["preg_occ"])
           .to include(match I18n.t("validations.household.preg_occ.no_female"))
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ RSpec.describe Validations::HouseholdValidations do
       context "but they are older than 50" do
         it "validates that pregnancy cannot be yes" do
           record.preg_occ = 0
-          record.sex1 = 0
+          record.sex1 = "F"
           record.age1 = 51
           household_validator.validate_pregnancy(record)
           expect(record.errors["preg_occ"])
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ RSpec.describe Validations::HouseholdValidations do
       context "and they are the main tenant and under 51" do
         it "pregnancy can be yes" do
           record.preg_occ = 0
-          record.sex1 = 0
+          record.sex1 = "F"
           record.age1 = 32
           household_validator.validate_pregnancy(record)
           expect(record.errors["preg_occ"]).to be_empty
@@ -155,9 +155,9 @@ RSpec.describe Validations::HouseholdValidations do
       context "and they are another household member and under 51" do
         it "pregnancy can be yes" do
           record.preg_occ = 0
-          record.sex1 = 1
+          record.sex1 = "M"
           record.age1 = 25
-          record.sex3 = 0
+          record.sex3 = "F"
           record.age3 = 32
           household_validator.validate_pregnancy(record)
           expect(record.errors["preg_occ"]).to be_empty
@@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ RSpec.describe Validations::HouseholdValidations do
     context "when the household contains a retired male" do
       it "validates that person must be over 65" do
         record.age2 = 64
-        record.sex2 = 1
+        record.sex2 = "M"
         record.ecstat2 = 4
         household_validator.validate_household_number_of_other_members(record)
         expect(record.errors["age2"])
@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ RSpec.describe Validations::HouseholdValidations do
 
       it "expects that person is over 65" do
         record.age2 = 66
-        record.sex2 = 1
+        record.sex2 = "M"
         record.ecstat2 = 4
         household_validator.validate_household_number_of_other_members(record)
         household_validator.validate_household_number_of_other_members(record)
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ RSpec.describe Validations::HouseholdValidations do
     context "when the household contains a retired female" do
       it "validates that person must be over 60" do
         record.age2 = 59
-        record.sex2 = 0
+        record.sex2 = "F"
         record.ecstat2 = 4
         household_validator.validate_household_number_of_other_members(record)
         expect(record.errors["age2"])
@@ -429,7 +429,7 @@ RSpec.describe Validations::HouseholdValidations do
 
       it "expects that person is over 60" do
         record.age2 = 61
-        record.sex2 = 0
+        record.sex2 = "F"
         record.ecstat2 = 4
         household_validator.validate_household_number_of_other_members(record)
         household_validator.validate_household_number_of_other_members(record)