Starling Bank - How to write inclusively ..

[FAQs]

www.starlingbank.com/blog/tips-on-how-to-write-inclusively/?fbclid=IwAR3m5clUUKArjEN_-jxnp1vELAhecQDzOzKhmCuK1HIuVP7dIl8kw1PkLk4

Where we can, we use ‘woman’ instead of ‘female’ – but we always consider whether we need to specify the person’s gender at all. Reducing women to mere reproduction by using ‘female’ (i.e. their sex) could also exclude those who can’t reproduce, as well as trans and gender non-conforming people

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I haven't clicked it, but from that extract, give me strength.

Are they really suggesting that referring to women as female, is about their reproductive capabilities?? And that using the word female excludes women who can't reproduce?? WTF.

So, I'm 50, so therefore I can't reproduce anymore, so I'm no longer female? And there I was, thinking I was more than just my old ovaries...

The hoops that this male led ideology jump through to exclude women from our own sex is so telling. No other group is so closely monitored by their oppressor group and gaslit into centring them

'mere reproduction'. Yeah, I was pregnant for half an hour, popped out a bean after a sneeze, stuck it in my parenting pod and that was it.

It says "black sheep" is offensive. But from what I've read that's a misunderstanding of its origins:

www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/black-sheep-of-the-family.html

Knew it! I was a customer of theirs but found the staff knew less about banking than I did (I last worked in banking in 2004) very frustrating.

I’m at work so dipping in and out, I was lost for words when I read it!

No mention of men I see. Presumably calling men men doesn’t reduce them to their reproductive capacity? It must be lovely to be the default proper type of human

I've never understood how referring to a group of people by a defining characteristic is thereby 'reducing' them to that characteristic.

Shame I told them to get lost... I’d be on phone asking about ‘men’ .

Trying not to derail, but what do black sheep think to being told black sheep are racist? Besides mmm grass chew chew

Yes, it's ridiculous to define 'female' as if it meant women who reproduce. However, does no one else remember Starling Bank being founded by a woman? A middle-aged woman at that. Anne Boden. She was very conscious of the male world of banking, finance and technology and the typical young start-up male entrepreneurs.

There's a vivid account in this Guardian article from a year ago, including the devastating episode where she had a disagreement about ethics with the man that she recruited to start the project with her. I won't spoil it by giving away what happened. It's startling, never mind Starling.

www.theguardian.com/business/2020/nov/08/its-crazy-but-i-set-up-my-own-bank-the-story-behind-starling-anne-boden-ceo-interview

My daughter is 4. She can’t reproduce yet.

So, she’s not a female yet?

No, your 4 year old must be a woman! Madness.

@Spitspotsput

Trying not to derail, but what do black sheep think to being told black sheep are racist? Besides mmm grass chew chew

I could be wrong, but that sounds like the kind of thing that happens when someone tries to think of things that black people would consider racist without actually checking with any black people...

Oh fgs as an infertile woman I’m not remotely offended by the use of the word female

Starling can fuck off and wokesplain elsewhere

It reads like a parody. Painful.

Interesting that Starling only talk about 'female" reducing women to reproductive function but no mention of 'male' in this context. So maybe it's fine to talk of male because we all understand that word means the entire holistic individual and not just that they ejaculate. But us - no, can't have us thinking we're people.

And what's this capitalising of black when talking of people? We do not capitalise adjectives in English.

I was about to switch to Starling. Maybe I will carry on looking.

I've met Ann Boden, Starling founder and CEO, professionally a few times. She comes across as very much aware that she is a woman in a banking world dominated by men, and very no-nonsense and unwilling to take any crap. If be amazed if she'd signed off on this

If it chases customers. They’d agree with puppy drowning. Sell outs.

Really disappointed in Boden (if she’s aware, which she should be).

I've been looking for a move since I found out Lloyds is a Stonewall champion. Starling was going to be my first choice
I don't know where to go now. Are there any banks who know what a woman is?