Someone has just asked a question about pregnant people on the coronavirus briefing

[StealthPolarBear]

When Dr Harries replied she used the phrase 'pregnant women' multiple times.
Excellent to hear.

Thanks. Don't need to put another journo on my shit list! Good for Dr Harries.

That was some seriously good repetition of "pregnant women"! She'd never win a game of Just A Minute with that

Good to know at least one leading scientist is into science.

Good to know at least one leading scientist is into science.

It's certainly a relief.

Off on a side track a bit but some people announce that 'we are pregnant' . It's probably not meant to cover that but maybe that's what birthing people means rather than transmen (still biological women though) that are pregnant and giving birth?
Probably not but who knows 🤷

Glad women was used rather than people

I missed Dr Harries replying. Glad she stuck with 'women'.
I'd flounced out the room and missed her answer because the woman asking the question annoyed me so much .

About 19/20 mins in on the video.

Nice one, Dr Harries!

We mustn't hobble our scientists by taking away information they need to assess risk. "People" is always going to be less specific than male/female (which can each be broken down further by age group).

Hurrah! Well done Dr Harries! The best thing is that she started to say people (natural I think to mirror language in response) then corrected herself to women. So it was entirely deliberate. Good lass.

Very heartening to hear

Didn’t it sound so heartening? Pregnant women, pregnant women, pregnant women.

Sorry Monicuddle I didn't quite catch that, what did you say?

The question is from a member of the public at 18.48 on the video.
Jenny was precise and concise in her advice to pregnant women and JVT had nothing to add.
Great

@NoMLMbots

Off on a side track a bit but some people announce that 'we are pregnant' . It's probably not meant to cover that but maybe that's what birthing people means rather than transmen (still biological women though) that are pregnant and giving birth? Probably not but who knows 🤷

Glad women was used rather than people

Just because some couples like to make twee announcements like that doesn't mean the male partner is any more involved in the pregnancy/birth process than any other male partner. It might be his baby, but there's only so far any male can insinuate themselves into the whole process of labour and birth 🙄 It's just not happening to you, mate...

@Warrickdaviesasplates

Brilliant! Sometimes I feel like I'm growing crazy with this sort of thing.

My local hospital has put out an announcement about their birthing suite and used the term "pregnant women and birthing people" who the bloody hell are these birthing people? Only women can give birth can't we just use the bloody word WOMEN. Is it that difficult and offensive to use the actual term.

I suppose I should at least be glad that they used "pregnant women and birthing people" instead of completely erasing the female part but it still annoyed me.

I think we have to regard this as a work in progress.

It’s not that long ago that the word women was proactively being left out.

Many of us suspected that this had less to do with being inclusive of transmen and far more to do with never being allowed to use the word women where it didn’t include men who claim they are women.

Many people pointed out that if the intention was to be truly inclusive, then why wouldn’t they use “women and [chosen term of women who don’t want to be seen as women]”.

So if both terms are now in use, then we have already achieved the compromise position. Those of us who believe this was a direct attempt to stop us from using the word women in situations which don’t include men are presumably happy to see its return.

@Mollyollydolly

Thanks. Don't need to put another journo on my shit list! Good for Dr Harries.

Sadly there is another: The Manchester Evening News tweeted 'Dr Jenny Harries says scientists believe it is 'perfectly safe' for people who are pregnant to get vaccinated'. Good to see several people on Twitter pointing out their error.

The Manchester Evening News tweeted 'Dr Jenny Harries says scientists believe it is 'perfectly safe' for people who are pregnant to get vaccinated'. Good to see several people on Twitter pointing out their error.
They still tried to weasel it in

I have limited patience with female-born people who go through pregnancy and childbirth while claiming to be 'men' or 'non-binary'.

I do not see why language is being contorted for the benefit of those who deny and denigrate their own biology, whilst opting to go through the most unmistakably female act possible. If one wishes to 'live as a man' (whatever that means), so be it. But please recognise that whatever 'living as a man' means, it does not involve undergoing pregnancy and childbirth.