At your cervix…

[TheTeaFairy]

Hello people of a feminist persuasion

I'm new to this board but have come across several fascinating threads lately. Is it me or does this (see the first sentence, at the top of the page) make other people's blood boil?

Wow. Is this like a handbag? That’s how it reads. Like you can somehow just rock up with your cervix in a pocket and have it checked out.

I don’t trust organisations that refuse to give the full gory facts about medicinal procedures to women anyhow.

Medical. Thanks autocorrect.

Person with a cervix?

Like Ed Gein?

I preferred it when they thought smears were for people with lipstick.

Haven't we had a week for cervical smears already

At least it does also talk about women, not only persons possessing a cervix. I expect that'll change in the next rewrite.

I had no intention of knocking Jo's Trust, which I'm sure does sterling work. But I wonder why they feel the need to be so inclusive when the only people who need cervical smears are women?

No, it doesn't make my blood boil. It makes me a bit sad that so many women have persuaded themselves that femaleness is an opt-out state, because in my view they're destined for certain disappointment, but it doesn't make me angry.

Ultimately there are now a lot of women, particularly young women, who do not describe themselves as women and who are still at risk of getting cervical cancer. If extremely awkward wording helps them access necessary services then I'm all for it.

I've been told by a HCP in the past that I don't need cervical screening as a lesbian - if lesbians and trans men are explicitly (like that!) or implicitly told that this is not a service they need then we are more likely to end up with cancer.

Transmen are Men.

Fair point Posy

Has the world collectively lost its marbles? The only “people with a cervix” ARE women, for goodness sake! And yes, that includes the subset of “women with gender dysphoria” who wish they were men, up to the point where they have a total hysterectomy, trying to make their body conform to their delusion. After that, they’re still women, but no longer have a cervix needing smear tests.
When will people stop mangling the English language to fit fashionable nonsense?

Transmen are Men.

Can humans change sex?

"eligible women" and "people with a cervix"

So excluding transwomen as they're not eligible but including transmen. That exclusion could become interesting.

I really dislike that "people" reference...

The only people with a cervix are women, that is accurate, but not all women have a cervix. I am not referring to TIMs, but to women who have had a total hysterectomy. However, that's by-the-by.

Despite being gender-critical, I dont object to the wording on that website. They have put the factually accurate statement first, and then found a way to include females who need the service but are currently in the grip of a delusion that might prevent them from accessing it.

Yes I was right. We had Smear for a Smear on 22–28 January 2018, now we have cervical screening awareness week 11-17 June. Any more due?

It makes me sad that women like me, who like more traditionally masculine hobbies, clothes, jobs etc are made to feel so inadequate and unwomanly that they feel they must be men.

I know a trans man with 2 DC and he (I am happy to respect any pronouns and call people the name they wish etc) is the most nurturing maternal person I have ever met. He sees himself as a person with a cervix.

Not really, it’s just written to be inclusive of both women and women who don’t identify that way. I might not believe in it, but it doesn’t bother me that it’s been written in a way that respects other people’s opinions so that everyone gets access to the medical care that they need. Also the site consistently uses the word “woman”, so no one is being erased. Pick your battles.

I think it’s ok, as inclusive as it’s possible to get, and if it helps improve smear rates then good.

I clearly hadn't thought through all the possible implications of my post. Apologies if I've offended anyone. As I said, I'm new here and obviously have a lot to learn.

Time for methinks

It is Friday after all!

To be honest this doesn't bother me - it starts with the word "women", it's public health outreach work, so whatever it takes to get through to all of their target audience. (I do share other posters' feelings of sadness at a generation of women being indoctrinated to believe that womanhood=pink sparkly stuff, such that if you don't conform to society's sexist stereotypes, you have to "opt out" of womanhood, rather than coming to the rather more obvious conclusion that society's sexist stereotypes are a pile of steaming crap)

The Trans horse has bolted and it's not going back.

I feel for organisations such as this, trying to help women but coming under attack for saying "women" or "girls".
They've found a compromise and haven't gone with "people with cervixes" alone. They've said women enough times to show they know the word means something.

Others have gone completely with "pregnant people" and such without daring to use the word "women".
I'd be OK with "women and people who are pregnant"

Let's face it. At least they haven't said "women and men with cervixes" which the TRAs would love.

Obviously I'd prefer it if organisations could say "females" and everyone was happy but TIFs refuse to accept they are female men, and TIMs insist they are female women rather than male women so here we are.

my personal opinion is that a person who has assumed a different gender identity who actively ignores health information for people of their natal sex, probably has more issues than just gender issues.

i also don't get the utter offence felt about the lack of inclusive language or incorrect name or title use - as a female (English language is very male centred) with a very foreign name who has not adopted their husband's surname i could take offence every 5 minutes if i felt inclined.

however, i agree with PP that the example is the best option given the circumstances. i fail to see how accusations of transphobia can stand when services previously for women are offered to women and trans men. if that genuinely helps more people access services for the health and safety of their bodies then great.

it is not acceptable when ONLY the new "inclusive" language is used though (chestfeeding replacing breastfeeding for example) given that women have barely earned the right to talk explicitly about their bodies at all and at least half the population don't know the difference between a vulva and a vagina.

meanwhile though, if having a gender identity is to become mandatory (as surely it must if the word "woman" cannot simply mean "person with adult human female body" as it did previously) then i wish the government would be upfront about it and publish a list of identities to choose from rather than just assuming mine.

The phrasing sounds like "people with a dog" or "people with a cat". Like they're inviting pet owners and also those who would be more likely to call themselves guardians or pet parents or whatever. Inclusive!

Either that or they think most households keep a spare cervix in a box under the bed along with the out of season duvet.

What does the neovagina connect to on a post-GRS transwoman? Surely that's a cervix too (as much of a cervix as a neovagina is a vagina, anyhow).

Why is only "vagina" being co-opted, and not cervix?

There used to be a poster called AtYourCervix. She was a midwife I believe and once rescued a kitten from a bin.

I'm a bit disappointed this wasn't about her.