The Speculum for "people" with vaginas

[Jeanhatchet]

The nonsense of this article ought to bring home to women who aren't aware yet that the erasure of the meaning of the very word women is happening even when describing procedures affecting only females.

Many of us know what it is like to be told to drop our legs to each side and "relax" in the doctor's couch for a cervical smear. You can hear the clang of the tray and that awful squeaking as it is unscrewed. It's is sharp at the edges and the last bit where they open it inside you ...can make you feel quite sick. It is uncomfortable and embarrassing and you are very very vulnerable and relying on a doctor not to hurt you in your most intimate of places. Your vagina.

The female body is the only one with a vagina.

The reason we have a smear test is so that we don't die of cervical cancer.

The female body is the only one with a cervix.

Cervical cancer only occurs in female bodies. It kills 2 females a week. It kills no males a week.

And yet.... and yet.... even the women who have redesigned the speculum to be more comfortable and better functioning for females .... have to say it has not been tested on "PEOPLE WITH VAGINAS".

Women. Women have vaginas. Women need smear tests. Women need to not die from cervical cancer at the rate of 2 a week.

Women need to be able to say that they want that investigation done by a female. They wasn't a female to insert that object into them. This is specifically important for victims of rape for example. If they can bear the procedure at all that is. They will have been raped by a penis. Females aren't "PEOPLE WITH A PENIS".

Women facing a smear test know their own bodies. Show them some respect when you speak about them.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/apr/23/how-to-redesign-the-vaginal-speculum?CMP=ShareiOSAppp_Other

Sorry for appalling typos. I'm dead mad about this.

It’s a strange phrase to use when they’ve used the word ‘women’ throughout the rest of the article, but I’m not sure I’m reading anything in to it.

I have clicked on the link - they use ‘women’ lots of times in the article?

I’m no fan of smear tests, but my understanding is that until the specum came along there was no way to visually examine a woman’s cervix or do anything involving the uterus. So it has its place in the list of life-saving devices...

Rose George's Twitter (the person who wrote the article) says she used 'people with vaginas' as that's what the US study said. She herself calls people with vaginas women, so also agrees the wording is nonsense. She wrote an article about toilets a while back which also tried a careful line on the gender neutral issue. I don't think it's easy at the Guardian!

I notice she comments her recent examination was done by a male nurse with a chaperone.

Can you request a chaperone if the nurse is female?

Yes, you can always request a chaperone whatever the sex of the nurse

I was also a bit unimpressed by the Jo's trust tips in that article- like wearing a skirt for those who struggle with smear tests for whatever reason. as heaven forfend we should look at design issues to make the procecdure less daunting.

I thought you could always request a chaperone.

I'm pretty sure that I've had a female doctor ask as well as a male one.

I don’t think I understand you disturbingly wearing a skirt IS a good tip if you are getting a smear test, I know I hate taking my trousers and knickers off but it’s not so if I can keep a skirt on.

Thanks, I thought so.

I was also a bit unimpressed by the Jo's trust tips in that article- like wearing a skirt  for those who struggle with smear tests for whatever reason. as heaven forfend we should look at design issues to make the procecdure less daunting

Oh fgs some of you really need to get over yourselves with this "oh I hate skirts and dresses" stuff. It is obvious what she means. You aren't naked from the waist down if you wear a skirt.

I'm not being precious about skirts, I rarely wear trousers - just as someone who has had very unpleasant experiences with smear tests, I admire people like the women in this article who put thought into how to make the procedure that bit pleasanter, rather than giving what I would have thought of as blindingly obvious advice that doesn't scratch the surface.

I was also a bit unimpressed by the Jo's trust

This is where I have been for some time. No further text needed.

Wearing a skirt does not make the procedure less daunting if you are an abuse survivor.
Its being on your back with your legs spread while a piece of metal is inserted into your vagina that is the most problematic part.

Wearing a skirt can make you feel more vulnerable walking to and from the test. I know women who stopped wearing skirts after an assault. There are reasons for that kind of behaviour, and its nothing to do with being precious and needing to get over yourself.

People who don't have to manage PTSD could perhaps take more of a back seat on issues like this instead of ranting their exasperation at other peoples feelings.

Yes, they use that sentence once, but throughout the article they use the term 'women'? It's also posted in the 'women' section of the website. I really don't think this is an attempt to erase female experiences. Maybe they should have just said 'it hasn't been tested on vaginas yet'. But maybe it has been tested on e.g. animals with vaginas- who knows?

Surely if this was a militant pro self-ID article it wouldn't refer to women at all throughout the article?

crow

I’m sure wearing a skirt isn’t going to make you magically better if you have ptsd but it’s not just people with ptsd who find smear tests upsetting, and actually wearing a skirt (or taking one in your bag) is a good piece of advise that maybe someone who has never had a smear test would not have thought of.

For some women it may make the difference of whether they repeat the experience or not.

And I don’t think you can speak for all abuse surviviors crow some people find the being naked from the waist down aspect very upsetting.

I am wondering if the use of 'people with vaginas' in this context means they have used it on animal studies but not human? Woman/women appears frequently otherwise. They have given it a female name, yona, at least. Mind you TRAs would probably claim that for themselves.

The speculum is called Yona..... Have they been consulting with Brian from Hull?

Agree with Upstartcrow 100%

Also I personally find the advice -stupid- unhelpful...I'm quite picky over what and who goes in my vagina and that's the anxiety for me about smears. Its not whether or not my legs are covered i find the advice condescending women aren't frightened little birds who need their eyes covered so they can't see what the vet is doing to them.

It's the "tip" that gets passed around whenever a woman is anxious about it or questioning the procedure. Shut up and stop complaining "tip" they should call it.

And I don’t think you can speak for all abuse surviviors crow some people find the being naked from the waist down aspect very upsetting

I am not an abuse survivor but the only time I had this type of examination when I wore trousers and was half naked was horrible. It is standard advice on Scottish NHS leaflets that wearing a skirt avoids this.

Thats great Lass, did anyone tell you to get over yourself for not wanting to wear trousers?

On the skirt issue, I guess everyone is different. I mean I think the piece of paper towel they give you to put across yourself for dignity is totally pointless, given they are about to have a proper root around in your vagina. Same with a skirt really. But some people might feel comforted by having it there, or by wearing a skirt.

But you’re allowed to wear trousers, it’s just saying that you might prefer to wear a skirt, it’s not forcing you.

According to the research that the jo’s Trust did around attendance of cervical smears it found that embarrassment to be a barrier. That’s not to say that it’s the only barrier or that women should just get over themselves, or we shouldn’t look into making the entire thing less traumatic but I don’t see why women shouldn’t also be given practical tips.
We do need to overhaul how women are treat in medical situations, the whole thing is a misogynistic mess, but I don’t think we should throw the baby or with the bath water.

The advice about the skirt is one piece of practical advice which clearly helps some women yet some of you are falling over yourselves to rubbish and seemingly would prefer if it wasn't given at all.