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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Birmingham gynecological health charity rebrands to include trans-men and non-binary

54 replies

stumbledin · 07/01/2020 20:25

"Cysters took 'women' out of it's name to become more inclusive to people suffering from gynecological illness with different gender identities"

www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/we-same-pain-birmingham-gynecological-17478251

Dont know whether to laugh or cry. If even those practicing medicine are prepared to perpetuate the lie that a male body can become a female one, and that a male body now miraculously needs gynecological services.

[headbang]

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Uncompromisingwoman · 10/01/2020 17:21

This charity focuses on women's gynaecological cancers and has no hesitation in centring women in their language and work.
For anyone looking to donate to a charity that is not intent on erasing women - it's a good one:

eveappeal.org.uk/about-us/

Durgasarrow · 10/01/2020 15:12

I would think that this charity would be for people with cysts. Cysts can appear on any body part, like a pimple or a wart or a boil. If anything, wouldn't they want to CURE cysts? If so, the charity should be called Decysters.

JanesKettle · 09/01/2020 21:47

Equality matters for everyone except women!

The battlecry of the 2020's apparently.

stumbledin · 09/01/2020 19:33

Sometimes I think the DM and others scan this forum to get news stories.

So they have got in touch with the founder of this charity to get her reaction to the response to their rebranding ...

2 ... Following the announcement, Ms Heera took to her Twitter page to state: 'We've rebranded.

'It's always a scary thought to rebrand but after much consideration, conversations with other trans and non binary individuals we decided to take out the word 'women' working towards creating an equal safe space for all.'

She added: 'Good night everyone but not the transphobes that keep messaging me cause of the @cystersgroup name change. Go to sleep and get over it. It's happening. We're inclusive. People matter. Equality matters.' ... "

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7865079/Gynaecology-health-charity-rebrands-include-transgender-men-non-binary-people.html

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RedToothBrush · 09/01/2020 15:49

Nothing screams more 'preachy religious types' "than going on about virginity.

That's not exactly going to engage a certain section of women and girls...

RedToothBrush · 09/01/2020 15:40

Imagine a men's charity that had v for virginity being thrown about in any context.

Nope, I can't either.

It's a pure sexist trope which links the concept of virgins and women as something that we should think about and consider. Because it's somehow important to the female sex in particular.

Is women's sexual health something that should be fixed by virginity?

Sorry but it's not hard to see in which direction this is headed. I don't know how it's justifable.

Perhaps someone can enlighten me, but women's sexual health and virginity coming up in the same breathe are troubling to me and seem particularly regressive to my ears.

JanesKettle · 09/01/2020 14:11

At present, it feels as if organisations are more interested in promoting their stance on inclusivity than communicating clearly to their potential audience

Health promotion failure.

Durgasarrow · 09/01/2020 14:01

That is disgusting. Reducing women to a disease and to the non-use of their sexuality. Not a good look. Anyone who think this has nothing to do with them is off their rocker.

ArranUpsideDown · 09/01/2020 13:55

At least I am able to parse the language. There will be potential female users of the support service who the service risks alientating through lack of clarity.

Both literacy and health literacy are substantial issues. The latter needs simple language particularly because somebody looking for information may be experiencing distress.

There is rarely a successful one-size-fits-all solution. At present, it feels as if organisations are more interested in promoting their stance on inclusivity than communicating clearly to their potential audience.

Ereshkigal · 09/01/2020 13:30

If I am looking for support for reproductive health issues, I am looking for single sex environments, and language around 'people' does not signal the particular kind of emotional safety that encourages my participation.

At least I am able to parse the language. There will be potential female users of the support service who the service risks alientating through lack of clarity.

This. The "I'm a trans man, ask me anything" thread a few days ago was interesting, as these concerns were raised by posters and glibly dismissed. People have such a blind spot around "inclusion".

JanesKettle · 09/01/2020 05:54

*whom

JanesKettle · 09/01/2020 05:54

Gender neutral language for female services actually does make me feel less welcome and comfortable, and would reduce my engagement with said service.

If I am looking for support for reproductive health issues, I am looking for single sex environments, and language around 'people' does not signal the particular kind of emotional safety that encourages my participation.

At least I am able to parse the language. There will be potential female users of the support service who the service risks alientating through lack of clarity.

JellySlice · 08/01/2020 21:06

Yes, it is ridiculous.

When I need treatment, guidance or support with gynaecological issues, women's issues, I find the pinkification irritating - but it doesn't affect my engagement with the services. Fertility issues are irrelevant to me, have even been distressing at times, but, equally, reference to them does not affect my engagement with the services. I simply do not engage with the fertility aspects. Other women do need those aspects.

I have no desire to push women who think differently to me away from services, but, just as I accommodate the needs and wishes of other women, they need to do the same for me.

FrogsFrogs · 08/01/2020 20:23

Not women. That's the point.

The comment about pink is interesting.

JellySlice · 08/01/2020 20:15

'Cysters' is a actually good name for a group of women with PolyCystic Ovary Syndrome supporting each other.

BickerinBrattle · 08/01/2020 19:23

So instead of using “women” they instead use a term that references a disease state, one that often encapsulates pus?

Interesting word association.

Why not Yeasters? Probably more females get yeast infections than cysts or cystitis.

JellySlice · 08/01/2020 18:35

I think they would accept "women, trans men etc.

Really? Not this one.

An anonymous non-binary person welcomes the change after they have struggled with a diagnosis of polycystic ovarian syndromee^ and endometriosiss^ since they were 23.

The 25-year-old said: "Ever since I got diagnosed with PCOS and Endo, I have searched for a space that is not branded with the colour pink, solely about fertility, and labelled both diseases as a 'womans issue'.

"Trans men and non-binary people already struggle in silence with so many issues, our reproductive health should not be another door shut to us.

"Cysters was the first place that I saw a post that used the words 'anyone who gets a period''^ . It meant the world to me to have the same information presented in a more gender neutral way.

Ereshkigal · 08/01/2020 18:23

Neither fo FTM trans people.

I think they would accept "women, trans men etc. They have to in relation to men's health issues. It's the male people who are most concerned about the word "women" being used to refer to female people without the awful prefix they try to give us.

ErrolTheDragon · 08/01/2020 17:00

So what does virginity have to do with cysts?

As someone whose PCOS was first diagnosed when TTC (which is quite common) : 'bugger all'.Hmm

stumbledin · 08/01/2020 14:25

This all just illustrates that in fact most people know that those born in a female body will or may have health issues related to that female body.

But in an attempt to not be publicly told they are transphobic or whateverphobic they start using language that they hope will neutralise that criticism.

Obvious the service would be relevant to FtM women as they are still biologically women despite any amount of surgery or drugs.

When language no longer even has a meaning how are we meant to communicate.

And of course how is it possible that such a tiny minority who are so vehement about this false narrative of being able to change sex, has been allowed to dictate to the far, far greater majority who know it just isn't true.

We dont allow any other cult to dictate how we talk about ourselves and experience our reality, but somehow this group has been given permission to do so.

Just imagine if the tables were turned and hate speech against (biological) women was a law that all this trans activists found themselves being taken to court.

On one level I am just so fed up with the enourmous amount of time, energy and money this is taking away from the real issues that women need to be working on that I just want to not bother.

But of course, that cant be, because the purpose of the trans narrative is to erase women as a class, so that they cant organise as a class against the oppressing sex class of men.

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JellySlice · 08/01/2020 12:52

Yes, because MTF trans people don't approve of anything that links the female body to the word "woman".

Neither fo FTM trans people.

Beamur · 08/01/2020 10:45

I know that really, but it's just so... illogical.

Ereshkigal · 08/01/2020 10:21

Yes, because MTF trans people don't approve of anything that links the female body to the word "woman".

Beamur · 08/01/2020 08:33

Why do these attempts at 'inclusivity' nearly always seem to result in it being less clear who a service/product is actually for?
Is it so unacceptable to say - women, transmen and some NB people?

ChattyLion · 08/01/2020 06:06

My holding with asterisks didn’t go brilliantly there but I hope you get the gist