Pregnancy Charity BPAS rejects pressure to stop using the word "woman"

[Toomie]

Just seen this on Fairplay For Women's Facebook feed.

Article in the Telegraph apparently

Feminist campaigners call move 'hugely significant' as BPAS prioritises best interests of 'majority of those using our services'

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/10/08/pregnancy-charity-defies-trans-activists-keeping-word-women/

I can't do share tokens I'm afraid but it looks very clear, unambiguous and positive.

It is good news agreed. Reading the articles on Kathleen Stock though and all she has been through have really upset me. It really costs these women to speak up doesn't it. She has paid a high price for doing that.

Yes! It’s great BPAS have set it out so clearly and fantastic that it’s being reported on in mainstream media.
Let’s leave aside that it’s shocking it’s even a question or a news story to ask whether clinics can inclusively provide abortion to women…. and still name women as women. For fuck’s sake…

But anyway. BPAS’ CEO Anne Furedi who was there for years wrote this article in Spiked criticising the disappearance of the word ‘woman’. Clearly that set the tone for this latest statement from BPAS:
www.spiked-online.com/2021/09/30/only-women-have-abortions/

Only women have abortions. Yes! Thank you. Absolutely right.
However as far as I know that Spiked article didn’t seem to get massively picked up on as they have a bit of a niche libertarian readership.
So. What’s going to be interesting is what the TRAs will make of this statement from BPAS now it’s been reported on nationally and therefore brought to public attention. They can’t use their usual silencing and bullying tactics against a pro choice organisation… can they?
Will the TRAs and their allies line up to picket abortion clinics trying to block women from accessing their abortions…. alongside the religious right doing the exact same thing?
I wonder how the genderists will be able to spin this..

There are no women's rights the gender ideologists won't campaign against.

twitter.com/paaunow/status/1444407294482071553?s=21

Alekto wow..
Not giving that person my clicks but at ‘pro life’ or anti choice campaigners trying to spin themselves as ‘progressive’..

just as long as they’re not lumped in with those uncool- looking pro life types you understand. Totally absolutely different of course. Because more up to date hair style..

There's a video in the tweet with multiple people who link abortion 'the unborn' with the oppression of their various groups. GNC, enby and trans people are all represented as are a few religions and women get a blink-and-you-miss-it mention along with people who can give birth. Progressiveness proved by none of them being over thirty.

'We’ll, as Alice pointed out, only women bleed. So there is that.'

Sorry if I have missed something subtle!

It's not true that only women bleed. Everyone bleeds if they get a cut.

Only women bleed only makes sense if you understand it's referring to periods.

Like so much of the language pushed. It's unclear. Relies on context. And a certain level of biological/ cultural understanding.

In short. It's all shite.

Only women bleed is a song by Alice Cooper 😂

I wonder if these ‘activists’ also approach male cancer and Heath targeted health organisations with the same request? I can’t say that I’ve ever seen an ad or social media activity a kid, say prostate caner that has avoided using the words man/male etc. and replaced them with ridiculous phrases/descriptions.

I was going to send a postcard but seeing PPs who donate I will send a donation with thanks. I'm sure written cards are appreciated and collected as evidence of support but money talks.

It was described as a “hugely significant” move by feminist campaigners after major organisations, government departments and NHS Trusts have all dropped terms including mother and women from their policies.

Also sorry to derail but I know my hospital used to have a "Women and Children's" division. This is now the "Family and Specialist Services" division.

This may be for the entirely innocent and practical reason of spreading the umbrella of the division to include over services such as Sexual Health, which obviously includes both sexes. But it does feel like a loss.

I find this statement by BPAS intelligent and accurate. I am proud of their stance on this.

Conservative politicians have been promising reviews of the language used Matt Hancock promised to look, so has Sajid Javid and I believe the previous Secretary of State for Justice was looking into men in women's prisons. Are we getting lots of (non) promises and no action. Are they hoping we'll just move on and accept our removal from society. I think there are so much opacity at the moment and through this, the march to remove women goes on.

Health organisations have faced criticism for deleting gendered language, including Cancer Research which removed the word "women" from its smear test screening campaign and an NHS Trust which advised midwives to consider using terms such as “chestfeeding”.

"Chestfeeding can also refer to using a feeding tube attached to the nipple to feed their baby if lactation isn’t possible."

I find the term chestfeeding instead of breastfeeding, difficult to accept.

Funny that breast cancer is still called breast cancer even though men can get it. But breastfeeding, which can only be done from female breasts, is being changed to chestfeeding in some areas. It's centering men in an area where the mother and baby's needs should come first.

I find the term chestfeeding instead of breastfeeding, difficult to accept.

I refuse to accept it Oblomov21
It is a nonsense. The chest refers to the thorax generally, and includes the heart and lungs, ribs, pectoral muscles and other parts of the anatomy. None of which supply milk to a baby.
In order to teach breastfeeding it is necessary to understand the anatomy of the breast and to be very clear how a baby attaches to the nipple. Not to a random part of the chest. It's a nonsense and I will never support it.
If a trans man still has breasts and wants to breast feed then they need to understand the physiology behind it. And also that they are still at risk of breast cancer.

I don’t see why anyone should accept it. I’m past that bit but stroppy enough to demand to be introduced face to face to the person who ‘genuinely’ (phobia?) cannot face the term (and ask why everyone has to change to accommodate them even though it upsets a hell of a lot more people)

Chest feeding is utterly ridiculous. If I found a lump in one of those 2 fleshy protrusions sitting on my thorax would I visit the chest clinic or the breast clinic for it to be investigated? I think a cardiopulmonary specialist would think me mad (and my referring GP incompetent) if I rocked up their clinic asking for a mammogram.

I've donated and thanked. I suggest anyone who supports them also donates if you can, even £5 with a message in the box that says "notes to seller".

Apologies if this has been posted, but here is an open letter to sign in support
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSePHhmeDc5N9Ty9OpRqZepdoqYZnzjBV5-zgCvYoaNBI5c8gQ/viewform

Thanks Crumpet, I've added my name.

Done

I have added my name to the letter, donated to BPAS and messaged them my support. That's my action for the day.

That's an excellent letter.

Thanks Crumpet. I've added my name. Also donated and wrote a card of thanks.

with-woman.org/2021/10/21/open-letter-to-bpas/

The letter is fast gathering signatures! Thank you for sharing it CrumpetShaw.

I've signed 😊
It's the clear way the rationale has been explained which is so important