Cervical screening campaign

[GrimSisters]

This popped up on FB and everyone seems to be thinking he's oh so wonderful for having dreamed up this ad campaign. AIBU to think it's gross, or am i just a massive prude?

From 'Man Behaving Dadly'
"A little while ago, I was asked to come up with ideas for a social media campaign led by GP practices in Suffolk to try and encourage local women to not ignore their letters inviting them for a smear test.

I pitched the slogan ‘Use Your Head, And Spread,’ which I didn’t think they would go for as it’s about as close to the mark as I have ever gone, but incredibly they went for it as part of their new campaign - Uncomfortable, Awkward, Lifesaving.

I know that it’s going to upset or offend some people, but surely if it gets people booking their smear tests then the job’s a good’un?"

I'm more concerned with knowing if and when we get the urine tests. I believe they're already used in some countries?
So much better than a smear.

In two minds tbh. Maybe it does suit the general public, I don't know. It depends on the reasons most women avoid smears. I'm not sure they are the reasons believed.

They are pretty hideous examinations that make women feel vulnerable and incredibly uncomfortable. We need an alternative or at least someone to look into the issue of that.

@SheepandCow

I'm more concerned with knowing if and when we get the urine tests. I believe they're already used in some countries? So much better than a smear.

I hadn't heard of this!

Wow, that would be an absolutely massive gamechanger.

I think very few women are just 'embarrassed'.

I don't have any issue on the grounds of 'grossness', but I suspect it's likely to be counterproductive if anything.

Are there similar ones (on blue backgrounds, obv) encouraging the checking of testicles and prostates?

www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/urine-test-could-prevent-cervical-cancer/#:~:text=The%20study%2C%20led%20by%20Dr,virus%20that%20causes%20cervical%20cancer.

I always thought the best one was the old ‘Don’t die of embarrassment’ one (80s?).

I don't know, it just sounds like the sort of thing a horrible male would say in a coercive sexual situation. However humorously meant, really not appropriate for a medical procedure.

Only a man would think that was an acceptable way to encourage a woman to go for a smear test.

Why the fuck did they approach a man to encourage women to go for smear tests?

It was "Don't die of Ignorance" from the 1980s but it was about AIDS.

It doesn't appeal to me, I think it's language that strays to far towards coercive.

I think we need to move away from campaigns that focus on it being awkward or embarrassing and make it seem normal and everyday. Language counts and telling women new to the screening programme that it's awkward or embarrassing is self fulfilling.

I don't like it at all. Sounds like a man came up with it. I've never heard a woman talking about spreading her legs, it's only a vulgar phrase I've heard men use - usually in a derogatory and crowing sort of way. "Did she spread her legs for you?"

No.

Bit like that sporting slogan that went something like "I jiggle. Get over it." Never heard a woman describe herself as 'jiggling' either. Very male term.

No there was definitely a ‘Don’t die of embarrassment’ one. I remember learning about it in a textual analysis class (so must’ve been mid 80s ish).

Gross.

Perhaps they could concentrate on the science and get those non-invasive HPV tests sorted?

So a male designer, with a team of male marketing managers signing it off then? I’m a designer, I don’t think threatening tones work well in communications but my male colleagues go for it time after time. This is also reinforcing the idea it’s awkward and uncomfortable - why didn’t they go with ‘it only takes 5mins’ or something positive - idiots.

How would men like it if they had a prostate check campaign and termed it along the lines of: don't be embarrassed, let the doctor stick one up ya. And put it on posters on the tube for women to snigger at.

Do they not think teenage boys are going to have a right laugh misusing that slogan? Imagine being a girl on the bus accidentally sitting near that, with boys around, and them all sniggering and reading it out loudly on purpose.

‘They don’t like it up em’ perhaps?

I don't like it at all. Sounds like a man came up with it. I've never heard a woman talking about spreading her legs, it's only a vulgar phrase I've heard men use - usually in a derogatory and crowing sort of way. "Did she spread her legs for you?"

This!

There are a range of reasons women don't go for smear tests. But if an individual woman is struggling with embarrassment, having the procedure described in such crassly (and masculine) sexual terms is only likely to make her more reluctant.

A campaign along the lines of "no-one like going for a smear, but it could save your life, and because our nurses are also women who've been there themselves, they'll do everything they can to make it as comfortable as possible for you" would be better.

Aimed at men.

He clearly thinks he’s a genius.

@CaraDuneRedux

I don't like it at all. Sounds like a man came up with it. I've never heard a woman talking about spreading her legs, it's only a vulgar phrase I've heard men use - usually in a derogatory and crowing sort of way. "Did she spread her legs for you?"

This!

There are a range of reasons women don't go for smear tests. But if an individual woman is struggling with embarrassment, having the procedure described in such crassly (and masculine) sexual terms is only likely to make her more reluctant.

A campaign along the lines of "no-one like going for a smear, but it could save your life, and because our nurses are also women who've been there themselves, they'll do everything they can to make it as comfortable as possible for you" would be better.

In fact, a smiley nurse with 'At your cervix' (to plagiarise the username of a lovely mnetter) would work pretty well if they wanted to be 'humorous'.

It's unnecessary. Individuals can make an informed decision whether or not to accept the cervical screening invitation. Crass campaign messages are unlikely to change the minds of those that have already declined screening.

In fact, a smiley nurse with 'At your cervix' (to plagiarise the username of a lovely mnetter) would work pretty well if they wanted to be 'humorous'.

That was originally part of a Joan Rivers standup routine about going for a smear test! The follow up was "dilated to meet you!"

That is really terrible. 🤢 both the wording and as pp have said the negativity.

As someone living with trauma, I actually find that quite distressing. I agree that it is coercive in tone, and somewhat dehumanising.

If they were trying to send out the message that the NHS is incapable of providing trauma-informed care to women then job done.

A campaign along the lines of "no-one like going for a smear, but it could save your life, and because our nurses are also women who've been there themselves, they'll do everything they can to make it as comfortable as possible for you" would be better.

I was holding off my first ever smear, and it was seeing a post similar to this from a nurse on Facebook that got me to book it.

She set out many reasons women might not want them: embarrassment because they think their vulva looks 'wrong' (wonder where that insecurity comes from ), or they smell, or they're sexual assault/rape victims. She was very assuring, seen it all, never seen anything that had surprised/disgusted her, etc.

Much better approach than telling women to spread their legs. That sounds like derogatory male locker room talk to me.