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Original poster

#MarchWithMidwives and the erasure of 'mothers' and 'women'

107 replies

AnotherEmma · 20/11/2021 11:22

I've been following the #MarchWithMidwives campaign because I support it. The crisis in maternity services is a disgrace. Midwives, mothers and babies deserve better.

The problem is, it's brought back all the same concerns I had throughout 2020 (when I was pregnant with DC2, gave birth and then breastfeeding). I was following my local maternity services, doulas etc on Facebook and the language was full of gender neutral shite.

Now we have a campaign which is (or should be) about the care and safety of MOTHERS, women and their babies, and the words mother and woman are fucking nowhere to be seen.

It's all "birthing families" (um pretty sure it was me who gave birth and not my family), "parents" and... my personal favourite: "service users".

JUST FUCK OFF.

I can't even challenge it because I know I'll be accused of being a TERF and derailing the main point of the campaign.

I don't suppose anyone has come across a well argued article or blog post about this, by any chance?! Because I'm too pissed off to be eloquent on the subject!

OP posts:
Original poster
AnotherEmma · 20/11/2021 12:34

"I wonder why they dont just black and brown birthing people? Is that because it really highlights how dehumanizing the language is to women and how it could be construed as racist to refer to black or brown women as birthing people."

Yes I think that's exactly why.

Can't dehumanise black women because that's racist.
Can dehumanise white women though, that's fine! Angry

OP posts:
Flapjak · 20/11/2021 12:32

I wonder why they dont just black and brown birthing people? Is that because it really highlights how dehumanizing the language is to women and how it could be construed as racist to refer to black or brown women as birthing people. It really is just horrible. Why cant they say mothers and transgender men . Though you are talking about what 20 people who this might apply to in reality

Original poster
AnotherEmma · 20/11/2021 12:28

I wonder if we're friends IRL Smile

OP posts:
InvisibleDragon · 20/11/2021 12:26

Yeah, a (male) FB friend of mine is all into this and is posting about "birthing families" which is really really annoying me -- as a currently actually pregnant woman.

On the upside, I know that references to "chestfeeding" and "birthing bodies" tipped another friend over the edge last year, so this campaign is probably bringing lots of much needed sunlight.

AnotherEmma · 20/11/2021 12:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ixqik · 20/11/2021 12:04

Have you noticed if the talk about 'black/brown mothers' while also saying 'birthing/pregnant people'? I haven't tried to join as I'm a known 'turf/spigot/zina/'fobe to a few of their admins. Grin

While I'm here: Try following With Woman on FB / twitter / website

Saisong · 20/11/2021 11:33

It's a frustrating example of throwing the baby out with the bathwater Sad