Time to get rid of the word 'midwife'?

[LadyCrazyCatLady]

I've received communication from my NHS trust today regarding a new service that they're offering for 'birthing people' and throughout the email they use the words 'birthing people' and 'pregnant people'.

I'm a fan of inclusive language, but don't find 'birthing people' inclusive as it seems to reduce women to a function of their bodies. You'd never refer to 'defecating people' when describing colorectal services. I think I'd be more OK with "women and people who are pregnant".

Anyway, it got me thinking, if we're no longer using the term 'women' at all, maybe we also need to re-name the job title of midwife, meaning "with-woman"...

This ^

Some stranger battling with their identity is of no concern to me. Unless they are your nearest and dearest why bother about it?

This is one of the things that massively pisses me off. Some say 'oh, it's the new Section 28. It'll make no difference to anyone else'. But was I expected to learn new words (most of them invented and passed down from on high), was I expected put other people before myself, change how I thought and expressed myself because of gay rights? No, I was not. My life continued as before. Now however, with this lot, we're expected to ourselves inside out to make them happy.

No.

@LadyCrazyCatLady this excellent paper explains why it is important to continue to use clear language that everyone understands and why so called inclusive language can be harmful.

www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2022.818856/full

I also think the term "birthing person/people" is all kinds of wrong as it is downright offensive in many situations.

At what point of pregnancy is a pregnant person a birthing person? What if someone is having a late miscarriage of a much wanted baby. She'd rather not be giving birth at 22/40 surely? But she might very much want to be acknowledged as the mother of the baby that didn't survive.
What is a woman who has just given birth and is having a post party haemorrhage. Is she a post birthing bleeder?

It all gets very ridiculous and often downright offensive.

Please reply to your NHS trust and include that link and tell them to use the correct words for women and pregnant women.

"We suggest consideration of the following questions: How can I be clear? How can I include the people who should be included and exclude the people who should be excluded? How can I ensure that people understand what I mean and can readily recognize themselves? How can I avoid dehumanizing language? Does it make sense to apply a gendered understanding of words or a sexed understanding? Am I engaging in cultural imperialism or improper use of privilege by requiring others to use language in a particular way?"

Your trust is engaging in cultural imperialism and improper use of privilege by requiring others to use their prescribed language.

🥱

Nope! Only women can give birth. I don’t agree with changing everything cos like 0.001% of people don’t want to identify as a woman. For years women have fought tirelessly for women’s rights and equality and now everyone wants to get rid of the word woman it’s ridiculous.

Thank you @FannyCann that's really useful.

Beautifully put.

Where did the concept of 'reducing women to our bodily functions' come from?

Pregnancy and birth are something only women can do and should be considered something to celebrate, not a reduction.

I'm going back to saying actress rather than actor and manageress where appropriate too. I think this language rubbish started way back then to get us used to what was to come.

How ridiculous the world is going absolutely bonkers!!!

When I had my baby the head midwife was a lovely man and I remember thinking they should maybe change the job title for him. Maybe head of midwifery
Like they used to have ward sisters for nurses and now that's changed I think

Interesting

A transman who gets pregnant is in no way 'living as a man' (one of the prerequisites for obtaining a Gender Recognition Certificate).

There is no reason whatsoever to pander to their nonsense by removing the words 'woman', 'midwife' and 'mother' from maternity services.

How a female-bodied person can make the claim that they were 'born in the wrong body', regardless of whether they mean it figuratively or literally, and then go on to gestate and birth a child is entirely beyond me.

Nobody should be playing along with this.

Well it’s a legal definition in statute , Midwifery Orders, etc. so unless the government change various serious legal documents I don’t think it can be changed.

even an individual trust couldn’t change it, they have to employ midwives to look after pregnant women as the law is clear only a midwife, not a nurse can look after a pregnant or labouring woman. And it’s an offence to impersonate a midwife. So if a trust said we will call the midwives birthing attendants I think someone could challenge that.

The NHS is a total disaster and it is worrying about using this demeaning language? Got their priorities wrong. Perhaps if they concentrated on what they are supposed to be doing, they would provide a better service

There is a time and place for sensitive language. Not all trans men who are pregnant want to be, and for them I'd go an extra mile.

I wouldn't put neutral language in for people who choose pregnancy- that absolutely has to be accepted as a female choice.

TM who's been raped?
Second person pronouns could be helpful in that case. So advice aimed at 'you'. I'm thinking of accessing termination advice without being confronted with anything that would push you further into denial. Pregnancy services could be tailored at an individual level, as needed, but with an emphasis on 'you' where possible.

There's no need for all information to be third person.

'If you are pregnant, you will need to register with your GP. They will access pregnancy services so you receive appropriate care.'

Perhaps 'you' is the way to avoid a lot of drama.

'Women, including those women who say they're not women' is fully inclusive of everyone who will ever need the services of a midwife.

We all know what a midwife is. 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it'.