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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Maugham: the sheer hypocrisy

29 replies

AwardGiselePelicotTheNobelPeacePrize · 07/06/2025 12:18

I see JM is all over social media pointing out the clear-as-mud toilet signage at Membury services. Yes it's pretty terrible. But where was he when clear language was being mangled in women's health documentation? Suddenly clear communication matters, huh?

The implications of gender-inclusive language for several categories of marginalised women in healthcare is really one of the key things that peaked me. All the "people with cervixes" nonsense that really does endanger disadvantaged women who are speakers of other languages, have low literacy or cognitive disabilities, who are already less likely to access healthcare such as smear tests. It is so against the direction of travel in health communication guidelines, which point to the need for clarity for all users. The average reading age in this country is pre-teen. Clear communication is vital for health literacy.

I can look at the Membury Services photo and say yep, that's terrible communication. But not once have I ever heard a TRA engage meaningfully with the plain language issue from the GC viewpoint.

What a hypocrite.

How we write - NHS digital service manual

Everything we write follows these general principles.

https://service-manual.nhs.uk/content/how-we-write

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potpourree · 07/06/2025 14:05

Women have to wear a dress in the shower!

Theeyeballsinthesky · 07/06/2025 14:02

The signage

Maugham: the sheer hypocrisy
NPET · 07/06/2025 13:51

ifIwerenotanandroid · 07/06/2025 13:46

I've just tracked that down & the signage seems clear to me. Isn't it:

To the left - men-only toilets, men-only showers, accessible toilet, mixed sex toilet (possibly mixed gender as there are 3 bits to that circle - I don't know what that means but I assume anyone who's bothered about gender will understand it), mixed sex baby change facility

To the right - women-only toilets, women-only shower, women-only baby change facility

Where's the problem? Well done to the services for providing all the options.

If it's what you're saying, it sounds perfect!

ifIwerenotanandroid · 07/06/2025 13:46

I've just tracked that down & the signage seems clear to me. Isn't it:

To the left - men-only toilets, men-only showers, accessible toilet, mixed sex toilet (possibly mixed gender as there are 3 bits to that circle - I don't know what that means but I assume anyone who's bothered about gender will understand it), mixed sex baby change facility

To the right - women-only toilets, women-only shower, women-only baby change facility

Where's the problem? Well done to the services for providing all the options.

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