Asked gender and pronouns on antenatal form

[bbypinkluffie]

So I’m 7 weeks today with my first, and yesterday I got given a midwife, and my first antenatal appointment was booked, and was told I had to fill this form out before the appointment, it had an entire section where the questions were “is the gender you were assigned at birth the gender you identify as now?” And “what gender do you identify as?” And “what are your pronouns?” I didn’t want to participate in their questions, as I don’t agree with gender ideology, I don’t want to have to “declare” myself a woman, I am one. I don’t want to “identify” as a woman, I am one. I’m pregnant for heavens sake! But regardless I filled out the entire gender section, saying yes I identify with my assigned gender at birth, I identify as female and my pronouns I chose as she/her. I only did this to avoid being asked during the appointment as it’s my first appointment and my first pregnancy and I don’t want it being ruined by being asked about pronouns. I only pray now I’ve jumped through their hoops I won’t be called a “pregnant person” or “birthing person” or “chest feeder” now. For heavens sake!

We are telling you there are far less convoluted ways of doing that. The questions as they stand are a problem because of all the reasons explained.

Refusing to consider a different opinion is your prejudice, it works both ways.

You were filling in a form. You see a question that does not relate to you. You can draw a line through it; ignore it; scrawl N/A at the top of the section. You may or may not be asked - probably not, especially not if you crossed the section out.

I have to do that all the time with forms. I don't have a family history. So that's N/A. I don't have a religion, so I skip that one. I never fill in the nationality/colour questions as my background requires its own paragraph.

The pronoun question is there for those who feel strongly about being called something other than the obvious for a pregnant woman. That ain't you.

Skip and move on.

I agree completely on the pregnant people nonsense, but this is a question targeted at the few who care about gender crap. I don't see the harm.

'Pregnant people' as a term is actively harmful.

It needs to be ditched.

We need to be clear that only one sex has babies cos it matters.

No need to shoot the messenger!

The inclusive people get nasty with the non believers!

We just don't believe.

Repent, you must repent!

Inclusive is spelled wrong, it's actually diviinclusive

The thing I find odd about asking these questions specifically is that it must apply to such a small proportion of people. I am there age many more pregnant women that are autistic or have hearing impairment or history of sexual abuse, or have religious practices to follow etc. all those things would be relevant to know about in terms care at the first appointment. Do all those questions gets asked on the form too? I’m assuming not. Even though you could argue those things would be much more significant, and more common, in the population of
Pregnant women.

Translation: "Shut up woman. Just be grateful to be having a child. You are a bad mother before you even become one How dare you have political opinions and feelings. Know your place".

It's fascinating to see the misgyonist comments dished out to women over anything to do with health care provision. So much abuse and use of power to try and control women's behaviour in so few words.

Well quite.

Its not about health or wellbeing of women is it? If it was they'd identify issues that might prove more relevant during childbirth or immediately after that affect many more women like the ones you mention.

It's about politics and removal of power from women. It's about putting women in their place at the bottom of the ladder.

“Maybe it is the hormones”

So ironic that someone on a feminism board has made this comment. Give yourself a shake!!

Bravo

OMG, that Danish statue is something else! What a disgrace - a lesson in how to gaslight an entire nation. It doesn't even look remotely like one of the vanishingly rare breastfeeding transmen.

Please tell me as a midwife that you don't refer to women as "pregnant people" That "chestfeed"?!

I would be putting in a complaint about you if you spouted crap like that.

Maybe you’d like to read the full thread where I talk about where I’ve actively pushed back at any mention of changing paperwork to pregnant people or chest feeding. Or where I say I don’t like the term pregnant person. 🤷‍♀️

This shit is hurting women, upsetting women, confusing women - and worst of all is the feeling that we can't speak up about it for fear of pushback.

How the fuck did we end up here?

Goodness gracious I’ve come back onto this thread and I’ve seen comments have been deleted by mumsnet!

I think midwives and managers need to know that women are upset, distressed and angry about this kind of language, but often too terrified to complain.

Many are already alarmed by the reports of serious failings in maternity services and then they have this on top.

It's really not a healthy situation.

Repeat after me, women are not being erased.

Apparently Dr Proudman is a feminist.

twitter.com/DrProudman/status/1649131677858275331?s=20

You'll find that The Righteous, despite being very eager to dish out dismissive sneery misogyny to others, are extremely delicate at anything less than perfectly adoring affirmation towards themselves.

yup it is certainly a belief some people have and that is very important to them. I think the sex of transmen remains fairly critical to what's going on in the room but have no problem with healthcare professionals being careful and considerate of people's beliefs about gender ideology as they are about religious beliefs.

It is nevertheless reasonable to articulate that for women who do not share that ideology it can be upsetting and unpleasant to be forced to act as if you do.

It'd be good to have language that asked your gender identity and had a "no, thank you" tick box.

Do you believe in gender identity? Yes/No

If you believe in gender identity what are your pronouns?

It's the enforced belief that's problematic.

Women and those who believe in gender.

How does being careful and considerate about religious beliefs feature in a maternity ward?
It's as equally irrelevant as whether a biological woman about to give birth considers herself a woman or a man...

Well I'd have thought that food might be one possible reason it's relevant on a maternity ward tbh.

But the forms have gone too far the other way, imposing this ideology on the vast majority who don't believe in it.

Personally I believe that if someone's dysphoria is mild enough that they are willing to go through pregnancy and childbirth to have a baby, they can bloody well cope with being referred to as a woman in generic communications or accidentally addressed as "she".

But if this nonsense is really necessary, the way to deal with it is to have a question at the end of the form saying, "Do you have a trans or non binary gender identity? If so, please tell us about it and let us know what pronouns you would like us to use when referring to you."

And then in bold, "If you are transgender and have been taking testosterone since becoming pregnant, please discontinue your hormone treatment and seek medical advice from your doctor."