Brilliant article on the importance of using sexed language in medical settings

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2022.818856/full?fbclid=IwAR1GmMyg9yC58i3SargXSSpsw1NgaVoD6raB8cz40YuEgx9VxFTr5A4m4OQ

I see from a search this was mentioned in the thread on the Midwifery Journal, but it warrants its own thread. Extremely clear and well argued article on why using desexed language in midwifery, obstetric care and breastfeeding support causes problems and gets in the way of effective communication. Not too long! I am not a specialist in any way and I can follow this.

One to bookmark!

Frontiers in Global Women's Health: Maternal Health

Opinion article

Effective communication about pregnancy, birth, lactation, breastfeeding and newborn care: the importance of sexed language

Karleen D. Gribble1*, Melissa C. Bartick2, 3, Susan Bewley4, Roger Mathisen5, Shawn Walker6, Jennifer Gamble7, 8, Nils J. Bergmann9, Arun Gupta10, Jennifer J. Hocking11 and Hannah G. Dahlen1

1School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Australia
2Mount Auburn Hospital, United States
3Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, United States
4Department of Women and Children's Health, King's College London, United Kingdom
5Alive & Thrive Southeast Asia, FHI Solutions, Vietnam
6Women's and Children's Services, St Thomas' Hospital, United Kingdom
7Centre for Health Care Research, Coventry University, United Kingdom
8School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University, Australia
9Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institute (KI), Sweden
10Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI), India
11School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine, Australian Catholic University, Australia

I saw this special article posted by @littlbrowndog too in relation to this thread
BBC Doctor on people with a prostate

Worth another bump!

Feeling quietly pleased with myself today.
DD had her friend over, who is studying for an MA in Global Public Health policy. She said her particular interest was in relation to women's health so I asked her if she had come up against problems relating to the use of gendered language. The daughter bristled and glared warningly at me and her friend nervously looked from my daughter to me and back again before saying she thought terms like "women and birthing people" should be acceptable but as a woman she didn't want to lose use of the word woman to describe herself.
I trotted off and printed off this article and sent her home clutching it.
No chance for daughter to be offended but I know that article is in good hands.

Well done. How fortuitous that you had it to hand!

I'm glad she has some ammunition to justify herself should she need to and she's a clever young woman who may one day end up in a position of influence so maybe I have helped sow a seed.

Fantastic, @FannyCann.

Heh. It has just occurred to me that another printed copy might find itself pinned to a notice board at work where current articles and studies relevant to the department are displayed.

@Helleofabore

Great article. I thought this sentence was interesting.

Am I engaging in cultural imperialism or improper use of privilege by requiring others to use language in a particular way?

I would say to that person "No, but you are being kind of tool about it..."

What a beautifully written research paper - I sometimes doubt my reactions, wonder if perhaps I'm not getting something, or I'm out of touch, or I'm irrationally attached to these words in a literary sense and being precious.

But these are people working in this field explaining why this language is so important.

Excellent article. Thanks for sharing and thanks for bumping, I had missed it previously. It is such a clear and coherent account of the impact of avoiding sex-based language. Dr VT and his ilk would do well to read it.