"Guys, gals, non-binary pals, you've got to FEEL YOURSELF and if in doubt get it checked out"

[NotTheOnePercent]

Guess which cancer this refers to.

Wrong answers only.

Guys and gals is not plain language for people for whom English is not their first language. Public health messages should not use slang.

But apparently this basic fact that used to be well established in public health communication is thrown out of the window in the name of ‘inclusion’.

Also, if there is a group massively disproportionately at risk, you do want them to realise this. You do want them to take a heads up and pay attention to a condition that mostly affects them. This message for women is lost in that campaign.

But it turns out that it isn't a campaign to reach the wider public, it's just on a piece of intranet news that the OP is up in arms about.

I also think it's quite sick to start associating what is not uncommon parlance with a known predator just because you don't like the fact the line is inclusive

I would imagine it’s been thought up by someone too young to remember Savile but it was one of his catch phrases and should be binned for that reason.

The rest doesn’t concern me, but there’s a really strong link with that catchphrase and Savile (what with it being his catchphrase and gals is not really in common usage.)

As I said I can’t hear it in anything but his voice.

Flickersy · Today 08:20

Not pointless at all, when women can identify as "guys" and men can also (rarely) get breast cancer.

You do have a nanopoint, but transmen know perfectly well that they're women and if they haven't undergone a mastectomy, then they know that they need to have mammograms.

In the case of men, unless there's a screening programme for men, why bother to include them? If they have BRCA-1 or 2 in their families, they should be warned by their GPs and be checked using the appropriate method.

Lol maybe to you it does 🙄
certainly didn’t to me.

I would say it's got a younger aim maybe? Jimmy Savile was before my time really so the association of the wording with him doesn't connect for me at all. I also don't see the term "feel yourself" as sexual in the same way I would see "touch yourself". To me that is actually more descriptive than check yourself because how do you check yourself- you have to feel. So I do feel for a short snappy message it's more communicative.

I should hope not, seeing as women have precisely 0% chance of ever being at risk of testicular cancer, whereas anyone could get breast cancer. Obviously women are far more likely to get it, but men are far less likely to consider it as a possibility.

Surely the whole point is to make these campaigns as clear and as easy to understand as possible. They need to be very clear in who they are targeting.

Breast cancer mainly affects people who are born female. Women. This campaign even starts with the word 'guys' the people it least affects. The whole thing is ambiguous and frankly childish.

The NHS seems to be obsessed with needing to make every campaign and piece of info aimed at women 'inclusive'. Frankly if breast cancer is a problem for men then they should have a separate campaign with symptoms, reasons etc. these campaigns need to be sexed based, nice and simple and straightforward, we all know our sex.

The NHS seems to have plenty of money and bandwidth for this stuff :/(

genuinely if I quickly passed this I'd think it's not aimed at me. I am not a 'gal' fgs. I'm in my 50s. I'm a woman. if you want the attention of the people this affects you needed to use terms which refer to them not to school children

Why use male or female at all?
Why not just say 'check your breasts for signs of change'.
How many meeting hours with many staff costing ££££ went into this promotional recognition? When no doubt the breast care centre would have preferred that money going into their services.
Sums up so much wrong with the NHS really.

https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/lifestyle/how-should-i-check-my-breasts/

The guidance on checking your breasts is factual and aimed at women.

Well that depends on how you define woman doesn't it?

Yes it does matter. These campaigns should be about reaching the target audience. The vast majority of women don't consider themselves to be 'guys' or 'gals' (Jimmy Saville reference too), nor are many non-binary. If you get this fundamental part wrong by not defining your target audience, then the campaign is less likely to be effective.

I wouldn't stop to read something addressed to that group of people, it's not relevant to me.

“Ladies and gents, and non-binary friends” would be less dodgy because at least “ladies”, the most affected demographic, comes first and you lose the Savile ick factor. I have no problem with inclusive messaging, as long as that message doesn’t cause confusion (and ultimately exclusion).

But TW and NB people get testicular cancer too? And TWAW so that means women can get testicular cancer too?

See how ridiculous this whole thing gets?

If the OP’s hospital really wanted to be inclusive all they have to do is say Anyone can get breast cancer; learn what feels normal for your breasts or chest and get any changes checked out.

The non-fucking-binary mob know exactly what sex they are. And if they don't know yet how important this message is, as they are such experts on sex, then maybe Stonewall or Mermaids could launch a campaign in language that won't trigger the feels.
I'd be much happier if the money spent on this nonsense was used to outreach to women whose first language isn't English.

I also think it's quite sick to start associating what is not uncommon parlance with a known predator

But it is uncommon parlance! In the UK, anyway. When was the last time you heard anyone irl use the term ‘guys and gals’ when addressing a group of people? It’s usually just ‘guys’ even for a mixed group. It’s only ever been a JS catch phrase.

I think many men reading that won't think "oh, males can get breast cancer too, better check" but will see the NB bit and think they're just trying to say "females" in an "inclusive" way so will continue to think it doesn't apply to them.

"Both sexes can get breast cancer, so check for lumps regularly" - too boring and straightforward?

Breast cancer primarily affects women, but men can get it too. Check your body and know what feels right for you. If you spot anything unusual, see your doctor.

Is it the NHS?

Thank fuck the NHS had no links with Savile 🙄

I would probably have lost interest at Guys if I'm honest, purely because I wouldn't have considered it relevant.

This is likely to be on a subconscious level so not a purposeful act.

I think they’re using “feel yourself” in that kind of “oo-er missus, if it sounds a bit saucy/suggestive it will get everyone’s attention” way, which has taken over a lot of communications of various kinds. “Check your breasts” (or chest area or whatever) could easily have fitted in the same space.

People who refer to themselves as non-binary aren't a special third group, they're either women or men just like everyone else. The NHS should be professional and ignore the tedious, niche fad; it's of no more relevance than whether someone prefers Blackpink or BTS.

Might I suggest a hobby or some volunteering? Do something useful.

People who refer to themselves as non-binary aren't a special third group, they're either women or men just like everyone else.

And ironically being inclusive to them in a medical context just makes that more obvious. It’s like saying “male people, female people, and people who say they’re neither but have the same body parts like everyone else, don’t forget to check for cancer symptoms!”