Please help me articulate why this makes me uneasy...

[HedgeBrown]

...I've floated about on here a little and read a few threads regarding women's rights and censorship. I work in the NHS in Women's health. Our local Maternity Voices Partnership now refer to 'birthing people' in correspondence, social media etc.

I feel like the day is coming when we will be forced to reword our literature in my area to remove the word woman. How best can I put into words how damaging I feel this is? I feel I need to be ready to attack the issue with some intelligent arguments.

Catering to and accomodating the tiny percentage of trans patients you may get by using different language when dealing with them invidually - fine. Changing the official language in a way that's disrespectful to probably over 95% of your patients - not fine.

Sorry op, I know it isn't you. Giving birth was one of the most vulnerable moments of my life and I felt enough like a bloody cow on a field as it was. Birthing people

Language needs to be clear for all users including those whose first language isn’t English or whose literacy skills may be limited. Their needs should also be considered.

Yes this too, very much. Like others, I'd have assumed "birthing people" meant midwives etc. And I'd still have thought it was an odd way to describe them. At least I'd have thought it meant midwives and so on 10 years ago when I was happily ignorant of these issues and the threat on our language.

Thank you thank you! Some excellent to points with which to equip myself should the day come! I especially think the point about literature being accessible and understandable would be considered very important. As highlighted, 'birthing people' can be interpreted as anyone involved in the experience.

There has been so much debate for terminology in maternity care- are women patients, clients or service users? What does it mean that someone else 'delivers' the baby? But I feel stripping the woman-ness out of pregnancy and birth is so dangerous.

I will be ordering 'Invisible Women' stat.

Thank you, Hedge.

Think of it as helping the disabled too. Some autistic people like things clear and unambiguous. Perhaps you can add that to those with EAL etc.

"if you want to legitimise your fetish, make sure it is seen as the same thing as gender dysphoria in children and adolescents" is the advice followed when Stonewall UK included paraphilias under their umbrella term "transgender".
They are a lobbying group that influences law and policy.