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Original poster

"Women and birthing people"

139 replies

ICouldHaveCheckedFirst · 13/10/2021 20:11

I heard that phrase on R4 this morning, spoken by a consultant midwife.
She used the word "woman" or "women" several times, and only once used the above phrase.
Is this a way of keeping everybody happy?

OP posts:
Franca123 · 13/10/2021 22:34

It's all such a load of crap. Who are these birthing people? Where are they? Why don't we see them? We're bending over backwards for people who don't exist. It's madness from start to finish.

StillWeRise · 13/10/2021 21:49

arghh I heard this and pointed it out to DP who was only half listening and he had assumed that 'birthing people' meant birth attendants, maybe unqualified

Original poster
ICouldHaveCheckedFirst · 13/10/2021 21:47

@BettyFilous

I was encouraged to hear the word woman used, which says a lot about how bad things have got.
I agree.
OP posts:
Original poster
ICouldHaveCheckedFirst · 13/10/2021 21:47

NellWilson : "I think saying it once (to demonstrate awareness that midwives do care for birthing people who don't wish to be referred to as women) then dropping to the easier and shorter "women" is sensible."

It was actually the other way round. She said "women" at least 3 times before using the longer phrase. It was as if she'd just remembered!

OP posts:
BettyFilous · 13/10/2021 21:34

I was encouraged to hear the word woman used, which says a lot about how bad things have got.

NellWilsonsWhiteHair · 13/10/2021 21:30

Being pedantic, my absolute preference would be "women and other birthing people", as skipping the 'other' clunkily suggests that the groups are distinct rather than being 99.9% overlap, but broadly I think it's fine, and I think saying it once (to demonstrate awareness that midwives do care for birthing people who don't wish to be referred to as women) then dropping to the easier and shorter "women" is sensible.

I have big issues with removing the word woman, and sometimes I think additional inclusive language runs the risk of confusion, but in this case I'm content.

Artichokeleaves · 13/10/2021 20:56

It's at least inclusive of all biological females' choice of words, and starts with the 99.9% of pregnant women who define themselves perfectly happily with that language and need it for their inclusion of more vulnerable groups.

SusannaOwens · 13/10/2021 20:46

I think women and birthing people is fine, includes everyone who needs to be included and the word woman (and I hope mother) is still being used.

Original poster
ICouldHaveCheckedFirst · 13/10/2021 20:29

I did wonder why she'd only said it the once. Not every time.

OP posts:
GoWalkabout · 13/10/2021 20:29

I think it's fine, clear and inclusive.

GloGirl · 13/10/2021 20:21

My local Maternity Voices charity only says "birthing people" Hmm It drives me batty.

When appropriate I feel "mothers and ..." or "women and..." could be helpful and inclusive.

Piapiano · 13/10/2021 20:16

In fact, that begs the question. Why don't they use the term "birthing man" instead of "birthing person"?

Oh I know. Because it highlights the cognitive dissonance.

PrincessNutella · 13/10/2021 20:15

It would have been more polite to say women and front hole havers but whatev

Piapiano · 13/10/2021 20:15

Only women can give birth so it doesn't make me happy. I don't understand why a transman who was pregnant would be happy to be called a birthing (ie female) person but not a woman or mother. Men can't give birth.