Page 3 | "Guys, gals, non-binary pals, you've got to FEEL YOURSELF and if in doubt get it checked out"

NotTheOnePercent · 2023-10-26T20:50:17+00:00

Guess which cancer this refers to. Wrong answers only.

thedevilsgift · 27/10/2023 08:26

Flickersy · 26/10/2023 23:14

Does it really matter if it encourages people to check (yes, even though men get breast cancer at a tiny rate compared to women)?

Guys, gals, non-binary pals is just a silly little rhyme which pales into insignificance when compared with the reality of cancer.

Guys and gals is not plain language for people for whom English is not their first language. Public health messages should not use slang.

But apparently this basic fact that used to be well established in public health communication is thrown out of the window in the name of ‘inclusion’.

Also, if there is a group massively disproportionately at risk, you do want them to realise this. You do want them to take a heads up and pay attention to a condition that mostly affects them. This message for women is lost in that campaign.

IncomingTraffic · 27/10/2023 08:26

Flickersy · 27/10/2023 08:23

Then you should be complaining vociferously to the NHS about the official guidance which has used the word "feel" for donkeys years.

www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/lifestyle/how-should-i-check-my-breasts/

Show quote history

Again disingenuous.

’feel yourself’ is completely different to ‘it's important to know how your breasts usually look and feel’. 🙄

TheSpikySpinosaurus · 27/10/2023 08:24

SilverCatStripes · 26/10/2023 23:27

Because that silly little rhyme will most likely not be understood by women with learning difficulties , or women who English is not their first language.

Not to mention the fact it’s crass and distasteful- we don’t need silly little rhymes to talk about breast checks.

This!

JanefromLondon1 · 27/10/2023 08:23

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn due to privacy concerns.

Flickersy · 27/10/2023 08:23

IncomingTraffic · 27/10/2023 08:21

‘Feel yourself’ is quite obviously sexualising. Especially when the instruction is about ‘feeling’ breasts.

It’s not a neutral description and anyone using it almost certainly intends the sexual connotations.

Then you should be complaining vociferously to the NHS about the official guidance which has used the word "feel" for donkeys years.

www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/lifestyle/how-should-i-check-my-breasts/

IncomingTraffic · 27/10/2023 08:22

Saying ‘how can you object to being inclusive?’ is disingenuous.

sexualising breast checks is not inclusive in the least.

Loubelle70 · 27/10/2023 08:22

TheABC · 26/10/2023 21:51

Prostrate?

😂

Flickersy · 27/10/2023 08:21

AlisonDonut · 27/10/2023 08:21

I'm not going to lie, but 'guys and gals...feel yourself' literally makes me feel sick.

It does not suggest a breast check in any way.

Really? You actually had your head in the toilet this morning because of some bad words on the internet?

IncomingTraffic · 27/10/2023 08:21

‘Feel yourself’ is quite obviously sexualising. Especially when the instruction is about ‘feeling’ breasts.

It’s not a neutral description and anyone using it almost certainly intends the sexual connotations.

AlisonDonut · 27/10/2023 08:21

I'm not going to lie, but 'guys and gals...feel yourself' literally makes me feel sick.

It does not suggest a breast check in any way.

Flickersy · 27/10/2023 08:20

SinnerBoy · 27/10/2023 08:19

Pointlessly inclusive.

Not pointless at all, when women can identify as "guys" and men can also (rarely) get breast cancer.

SinnerBoy · 27/10/2023 08:19

Pointlessly inclusive.

Flickersy · 27/10/2023 08:17

CorruptedCauldron · 27/10/2023 07:58

You’ve got to FEEL YOURSELF? So it’s sexualising the need to check your breasts. Okay. Maybe if all their male patients rang up asking for a mammogram, they’d realise this gender-inclusive language is not helpful.

Guys and gals - feel yourself. I’m sure Jimmy Savile would be proud. Clunk, click, I’ve got the ick.

Is feel yourself sexualising? Perhaps in some people's heads and in certain contexts. Not in breast checks, where feeling your breasts is kind of essential.

I also think it's quite sick to start associating what is not uncommon parlance with a known predator just because you don't like the fact the line is inclusive.

SunnieShine · 27/10/2023 08:05

Clunk, click, I've got the ick

Brilliant! 😁

And no-one is "non binary", it's a nonsense term

IncomingTraffic · 27/10/2023 08:03

CorruptedCauldron · 27/10/2023 07:58

You’ve got to FEEL YOURSELF? So it’s sexualising the need to check your breasts. Okay. Maybe if all their male patients rang up asking for a mammogram, they’d realise this gender-inclusive language is not helpful.

Guys and gals - feel yourself. I’m sure Jimmy Savile would be proud. Clunk, click, I’ve got the ick.

This is the bit that I’d say is problematic. Sexualising it may well put off as many people (or more) than it helps.

CorruptedCauldron · 27/10/2023 07:58

You’ve got to FEEL YOURSELF? So it’s sexualising the need to check your breasts. Okay. Maybe if all their male patients rang up asking for a mammogram, they’d realise this gender-inclusive language is not helpful.

Guys and gals - feel yourself. I’m sure Jimmy Savile would be proud. Clunk, click, I’ve got the ick.

Killingmytime · 27/10/2023 07:58

I thought of breast cancer straight away.
seeing as it affects men i don’t have a problem with it.

SinnerBoy · 27/10/2023 07:55

Come on, Ladies! Don't forget to feel your knackers for lumps once a month!

... Oh

SabrinaThwaite · 27/10/2023 07:46

When will they start applying this “inclusive” language to campaigns around male cancers like testicular cancer?

They won’t, will they?

ApocalipstickNow · 27/10/2023 07:23

Arrestedforit · 26/10/2023 23:07

Ridiculous and yanbu,
And when I hear ‘guys and gals’ I immediately think of Jimmy Saville as that was his catch phrase,

I can’t not hear it in his voice.

Original poster

NotTheOnePercent · 27/10/2023 04:58

This isn't a public advertising campaign. This is a heading on a hospital intranet for staff praising our breast cancer nurses and highlighting the stand they had at the hospital entrance. Our staff are 70% female. Breast cancer predominantly affects female.
I object to the childish language of our communications team on a hospital website for staff. And I guarantee the breast team will not be pleased.

For people born male, the risk is much lower, therefore the risks of screening with imaging do not outweighs the benefits.

Notwithstanding moobs how exactly would most men have a mammogram?

OP posts:

smilesup · 27/10/2023 04:17

The Jimmy saville bit is unfortunate. The rest I can't get too uptight over. As if it gets someone who wouldn't check to check then job done. It does need the message to be stated in a different way so it is clear for other people too.

Pocodaku · 27/10/2023 04:03

SilverCatStripes · 26/10/2023 23:10

I do wish they would get women to plan these marketing campaigns then we wouldn’t get this utter nonsense! Why can’t we have a simple campaign in plain language- Women please check your breasts for changes regularly.

This is as bad as the tampax “you’ve got to get it up there girls “ - although that was just bad taste , this poor advertising for breast checks is downright dangerous.

Unfortunately, there are women who would plan these campaigns and enthusiastically push such “inclusive” language. Being female doesn’t guarantee GC views (or even basic thinking about sex-based issues) these days.

SinnerBoy · 27/10/2023 02:38

I did think that this was going to be something about Savile.

rmc2001 · 27/10/2023 02:03

And equally, although this is breast cancer specific, the message could apply to lots of cancers. It doesn’t really matter that it’s not specific, we should be feeling ourselves all over anyway.