“Don’t be a diva it’s only a beaver”

[clairestandish]

Just seen this in big pink writing on FB picture being shared round from some sort of smear test campaign, followed by a ‘we’ve seen it all before! go for your smear’ bla bla bla

I keep seeing this kind of thing, lots of focus on the low figures of women attending cervical screening being down to ‘prudish’ women who are too embarrassed.

AIBU to feel annoyed that a lot of the campaigns take this slant? I really don’t think it’s the full reason women decline having cervical screening. Many women have been treated badly by medical staff during childbirth and have a lack of trust or find the process too daunting in light of that. Many women have a history of sexual abuse and can’t face it. I’m sure there are more reasons too and it would be useful to address all of them if we want to improve attendance of cervical screening.

I'm amazed at how many women don't take up cervical smears, especially when we're so lucky to have them for free!
Couldn't agree more , it's unpleasant and not very comfortable but hey would rather know I had a problem early when treatable rather than leave it too late .

I hate the language around that Facebook post. It’s a procedure carried out on adult females, so they should use adult language, instead of this patronising nonsense. It’s the vagina and cervix not a fucking beaver. As for the Diva comment, that type of language will do nothing to encourage women who are anxious or indeed, terrified, of having a smear test. It will simply have them worry that if they get distressed during it, they will be considered to be a ‘diva’. It has obviously been thought up by someone who has little understanding of why some women are refusing smear tests.

I hate the language around that Facebook post. It’s a procedure carried out on adult females, so they should use adult language, instead of this patronising nonsense. It’s the vagina and cervix not a fucking beaver. As for the Diva comment, that type of language will do nothing to encourage women who are anxious or indeed, terrified, of having a smear test. It will simply have them worry that if they get distressed during it, they will be considered to be a ‘diva’. It has obviously been thought up by someone who has little understanding of why some women are refusing smear tests.

This is absolutely spot on. Many women have considered carefully whether they want to go for smears or not based on their personal risk of cancer. Others have suffered awfully. To reduce it to “don’t be a diva” is patronising and pathetic.

I think it is awful - patronising and belittling of women's concerns about smear tests. I also hate the smear for a smear, it makes me shudder.

I go to my smear tests. I find them agonisingly painful and am actually phobic about them. In order to attend I take valium and I am still upset, fearful and in pain during them. I am not being a bloody diva.

I’m overdue as I couldn’t get an appointment, the nurse at the gps surgery I use was on long term sick leave and no idea when she was coming back and no cover at least for smears, I tried a couple of times to be told the same thing. Nothing to do with being precious, I’ll have to find a family planning clinic with a dr, last time I had my coil changed I had to go to a different borough.
Seems to be problem where I am?

If I was on the fence about a smear, that twee patronising twaddle would probably put me off

Disagree PositivelyPERF

The reasons why people don't get checked are varied.
The motivations to go and be checked are varied.
The age group being addressed is quite wide.
The trivialised nature of the message might not hold much gravitas and address the fears of those who see it as a significant medical procedure, but equally, promoting it as a significant medical procedure may well be offputting to others.

There's no right or wrong with this campaign, it's just one more attempt to persuade some to get checked.

Perhaps next time they will create a different campaign focussed on reassurance that fear is not unusual and can be addressed with respect and patience.

Both approaches are valid. There is room for multiple approaches isn't there?

Both approaches are valid. There is room for multiple approaches isn't there?

Calling women divas is insulting.

Multiple approaches is fine. Talking down to women like this really isn’t.

*What is the Jade Goodie effect supposed to convey.

She DID go for them, obviously or they wouldn't have found it in the first place*

I thought she missed her smear tests and then they didn’t find the cancer until it was too late?

My bold didn’t work then?!

I decline smear tests for several reasons including extreme anxiety.

Objections to the horrible linguistic choices aside, this campaign seems to miss the point that I (and women like me) know very well that the nurse has seen plenty of vulvas, that it's her job and she doesn't care what it looks like, et cetera. It's not about her. It's about the patient, who hasn't shown off her bits to anyone (partners excepted) before and doesn't feel any less embarrassed/anxious/frightened about it because it's routine to the nurse.

Give the factual information about the benefits and risks of the test, let individual women make up their minds about whether they want it or not. No patronising and cajoling, please.

The word 'diva' is awful in this context. Whatever reasons women might have for being reluctant to have a smear, I doubt that being a 'diva' is one of them.

Both approaches are valid. There is room for multiple approaches isn't there?

I don’t agree, because it’s not the positive, grown up campaign that will be remembered by the fearful women, but the negative, sexist, patronising one. Those women who have good, solid reasons for refusing, are not going to say, “oh, they’re talking to me like an adult and respecting my fears now, so that’s ok”. They are going to be worrying if the nurse/doctor is going to be thinking they’re a diva, because that’s what they have actually called them in print.

The ‘other’ advert does not remove that insult and stigma.

It's great. It's memorable. Stop taking such offense. There are bigger issues at stake here.

I don't know anyone among my group of friends that's had one. And that is purely because 'ugh no thanks' not because of deep seated reasons. They aren't being clever.
They are just trying what they can to appeal to some women. In time there will be another approach. If it encourages one woman then it's great

"Only"

Yes women's reproductive systems are always "only" aren't they.

It's only a beaver FFS fuck off.

And calling women who don't want smears for whatever reason "divas" is shit as well. Diva is getting really over the top flouncy / screamy / toddlerish at things that are utterly trivial, and is usually applied to poeple (women) who are seen as spoiled ie very rich / famous women.

It's a shit thing to apply to a woman who doesnt' want to get a smear. That she is spoilt, makign a fuss about nothing, beign a drama queen, overtones of doing it for attention as well.

It's great. It's memorable. Stop taking such offense. There are bigger issues at stake here.

I expect that’s the attitude of the ignorant person that thought if that campaign. Absolutely no consideration to the issues that women have. You’ve just compounded that fear that some females have of being considered a diva. Really really reassuring.

I think the survey or whatever they did before coming up with this probably showed that a lot of women don't go for the first smear out of embarrassment/worry about being judged on the state of their vulva, so decided to come at that from a jokey, irreverent, 'we've seen it all before', 'what would you say to your mate who told you they weren't going?' angle.

I personally don't like the words or the message, but I don't think we're the target audience. If it work then it works, I think it might be a case of the ends justifying the means for me on this one. Talking down to groups of people to better their health is basically what most public health campaigns do.

For me, when my smears have been late it's been because the nurse only works 10-2 or something, so I've had to wait until I can take annual leave and manage to get an appointment to match, which was tricky in my previous career, especially if they only release appointments in one month blocks.

I don't know any women who refer to female genitals as "beaver" it is a male sexualised and to my ear american word.

In fact women rarely refer to their genitals at all, while men merrily go around drawing cocks over literally everything, this is part of the issue as well isn't it. Our genitals and reproductive systems are still seen as not quite polite to mention, really, although we have made progress, and already the language is being taken away again, beaver FFS

The biggest reason I put off going is that it requires you not to be having your period. I can make a reasonable guess but by the time the receptionist and myself have found a date we can agree on,its months away and I couldn’t say for sure if I would or wouldn’t be.

not because of deep seated reasons You don’t actually know that. They may have deep rooted fears, because of past experiences, but mask that with the ugh no thanks comments. Even close friends have secrets.

I thought she missed her smear tests and then they didn’t find the cancer until it was too late?

No, she didn't. She had one that was abnormal and did not go for the colpo.

Funny how now there's a blood test for potential prostate cancer so the men don't automatically need to have their prostate checked via their rectum, but for women it's you're being silly about your beaver. This type of institutionalised patronising is exactly why women's health care is still the bastard stepchild in every way!

So you think us lot who never miss our smears like them? I'm sorry but there is a touch of diva in someone who says it makes them anxious. You think i enjoy lying on my back and opening my legs and having a cold metal implement stuck up there? I just get over myself and have it done in the knowledge it could possibly save my life. Jeez!

'what would you say to your mate who told you they weren't going?' angle.

I have friends who don't. They have their own reasons for this. It is their body, their choice and if I couldn't support them in this then I have no right to be their friend. That makes me a bully. My friends are intelligent adults who can be trusted to make their own decisions about what they do and don't do. My friends have chosen to do lots of things with their bodies that I wouldn't do. Their body, their choice.

Funny how now there's a blood test for potential prostate cancer so the men don't automatically need to have their prostate checked via their rectum, but for women it's you're being silly about your beaver.

There isn’t a screenibg program for prostate problems, blood or rectal.