Irish women, have you seen this?

[SecondRow]

The HSE removed the word "woman" from their CERVICAL screening pages
I stumbled across this tweet
twitter.com/Salwicklow/status/1305967737563422720?s=20

politely asking them to put woman back in, alongside trans men and trans women, who both get their own special mentions, but they have brushed off the woman who made the original request and are no longer replying.

Here's the HSE pages
www2.hse.ie/screening-and-vaccinations/cervical-screening/when-you-should-have-cervical-screening/who-should-have-cervical-screening.html

And here's Aoife Martin - no cervix skin in the game inviting followers to mock women for wanting the 99.9% of people who need cervical screening to be named as such by a health service that already has some serious catching up to do before women can believe it has their best interests at heart.

twitter.com/aoifemrtn/status/1306339571790159872?s=20

It was very thorough, every angle covered.

@swingsandroundabouts1

It was very thorough, every angle covered.

Every angle covered if your sex is not female.

Absolutely no angles covered for those of us born, and who remain, women.

Yes. Women were completely thrown under a bus.

In Cervix news, Newstalk Breakfast and Dr Peter Boylan, consultant obstetrician and former chair of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynecologists:

www.newstalk.com/news/not-everyone-might-understand-cervix-peter-boylan-changing-cancer-screening-wording-1086331

I didn't listen to it on the show, did anyone hear it?

But it sounds like a real shame that Dr Boylan couldn't keep the focus on women who both need and want to be referred to as such, rather than getting side-tracked down the trans path.

Still, I'm glad of every voice added.

I heard it and it’s available as a transcript and listen back. Great that someone is covering it. t.co/ZDjiGWXdWb?amp=1

Radio show clip
www.rte.ie/radio/radioplayer/html5/#/radio1/21836442

On Liveline today, we spoke to Sarah who took offence that the HSE refers to people with a cervix, rather and 'women and trans men', in their literature regarding cervical health and smear testing. Amy rang to say that she didn't mind the eradication of the word 'woman' and that she felt it was inclusive.

interesting note: HSE claimed the gender neutral language was a recommendation by Dr Gabriel Scally (CervicalCheck cancer test crisis review), which he refuted.

HSE prostate info page which is full of the words 'man'

HSE prostate info page which is full of the words 'man'

Of course it is.

@FindTheTruth

Radio show clip www.rte.ie/radio/radioplayer/html5/#/radio1/21836442

On Liveline today, we spoke to Sarah who took offence that the HSE refers to people with a cervix, rather and 'women and trans men', in their literature regarding cervical health and smear testing. Amy rang to say that she didn't mind the eradication of the word 'woman' and that she felt it was inclusive.

interesting note: HSE claimed the gender neutral language was a recommendation by Dr Gabriel Scally (CervicalCheck cancer test crisis review), which he refuted.

A debate between 3 women, 2 want to put 'woman' back in and have no problem with including other inclusive language like 'transman', whereas Amy is insisting that the use of word woman is exclusionary having spoken to people at Pride and tells Sarah to 'go and get a hobby'. Then gay man joins saying make it all inclusive and keep the words 'woman' and 'man'. presenter tells Amy not all LGBT people agree with you. Sarah talks about the abuse that she's had - being called a TERF.

they talk about the NHS UK wording - 'all women and people with a cervix', which most of them think is great

Finally got a reply from cervical check. They didn't answer any of my questions (again). The reply, which could be paraphrased as f**k off and stop annoying us, was:

Thank you for your query. We have taken your point into consideration and will consider it when we update the material in the future.

A scheduled review of information for cervical screening participants is included in our plan for the roll out of the new HPV cervical screening test. This review of information is planned to begin by end of year. We would like to assure CervicalCheck participants that we are listening to their feedback, and that we will give it appropriate consideration during this review process.

I replied as follows:

Thank you for your reply and I am pleased you will be taking my point into consideration.

However, you have still not answered any of my questions. I would appreciate if you would answer my questions (you can see them below).

Many thanks,

I got the same copy and paste response. I wonder how many they have sent out now. I’m going to respond to them.

Well done for keeping on their case, Ochon!

Although it would be nice if they held their hands up and said "you're right, we were completely wrong and we'll change it straight away" I do think that response means they have got the message.

It is an attempt to save face to say "oh we were always going to review it after a while anyway".

@SecondRow

Well done for keeping on their case, Ochon!

Although it would be nice if they held their hands up and said "you're right, we were completely wrong and we'll change it straight away" I do think that response means they have got the message.

It is an attempt to save face to say "oh we were always going to review it after a while anyway".

I'm not so sure about that. If you look at their procedures, they are required to do periodic reviews so I don't think the review is based on feedback.

It will be interesting to see whether the review even really considers this beyond noting some complaints and deciding they are not representative.

True, but I suppose I was thinking that had there not been all these complaints, the review would have been a rubber-stamping exercise, whereas now they know they're being watched

@SecondRow

True, but I suppose I was thinking that had there not been all these complaints, the review would have been a rubber-stamping exercise, whereas now they know they're being watched

You're a lot more trusting than I am.

The fact they are refusing to answer my questions suggests to me that it will be a rubber stamp exercise. Maybe I'll ask for details of the review process.

I too got that response from them! I get that whoever is handling the emails probably isn't allowed to say too much, but I do hope they realise they've f-ed up here.

Also of relevance: www.buzz.ie/news/cervical-screenings-appointments-noirin-russell-393032#

Staff at Oberstown (detention facility for juveniles) are threatening industrial action because they're trying to get rid of the female unit and are starting to send girls to a mixed sex unit. The social workers standing up against this are heroes, they know exactly what will happen in a mixed sex unit

"It is understood residential care workers in Oberstown have flagged their opposition to the mixed-gender units with management on numerous occasions. Social care workers, who act as underage prison wardens, are fearful that one of the detainees may seek to take exploit the fact that there is a female in this unit.

They are also aware that a number of detainees at the institution have been violent or made threats of violence against young women. Separately, staff at Oberstown have repeatedly called for additional personnel to be brought on board to deal with certain, high-risk detainees."

www.thejournal.ie/oberstown-facility-mixed-gender-unit-5234184-Oct2020/

Jesus Christ what possible rationale can there be for that?

@7Days

Jesus Christ what possible rationale can there be for that?

The article slightly implies that it might be an attempt to cut costs? It doesn't matter what the rationale is, though. It is very dangerous for the girls to be put into a mixed sex unit and that should not be allowed.

As an aside, I wish all Irish women success with the attempt to get their language back about cervical cancer screenings.

That's appalling. The article even mentions Boy A, the killer of Ana Kriegel, who is detained there. The cruel and unusual punishment for any teenage girl having to fear encountering him. Jesus Christ. Are we to believe this is in line with

“The Board and management of Oberstown continue to work to ensure that all practices on the campus are in line with national and international standards to achieve the best possible care for young people in our care.”

Do other countries really detain teenagers in mixed-sex units? What could possibly go wrong?

Staff at Oberstown (detention facility for juveniles) are threatening industrial action because they're trying to get rid of the female unit and are starting to send girls to a mixed sex unit. The social workers standing up against this are heroes, they know exactly what will happen in a mixed sex unit

Good on them. They're really putting their money where their mouth is.

That poor girl Ana.RIP.

We are all so shocked and dismayed about the sins of the past, while pathetically watching tomorrows scandals unfold.

We can all say we didnt know

@OchonAgusOchonO

Staff at Oberstown (detention facility for juveniles) are threatening industrial action because they're trying to get rid of the female unit and are starting to send girls to a mixed sex unit. The social workers standing up against this are heroes, they know exactly what will happen in a mixed sex unit

Good on them. They're really putting their money where their mouth is.

Fair play to them.

I shouldn't have said my last post. Not everyone is sitting back.