Poster at the GP surgery

[FondOfOwls]

I recently went to register at a new GP surgery, due to moving house.
Then, upon leaving I noticed a huge, hand made poster stating 'Woman? Transman? Non binary?? Get your cervix checked'.
In general I don't mind this phrase when called for a smear, but it made me feel very uncomfortable-I have a DD6 who would no doubt question it if she noticed it.
I think I'd just tell her it's still women and rather tell her what cervix is, but AIBU to feel it is not appropriate? I'd also worry someone could challenge me if they heard me saying that to my DD.
Receptionist sporting a rainbow lanyard of course.
Feeling a bit disheartened as I spent HOURS filling in the paperwork for them, and the next nearest surgery is not very good and not very close.

I also think it's ok... and could be a useful talking point for your DD. This is the world they live in and it is good to talk to them (in an age appropriate way) about all the things they will see (and read). I am not a fan of "I'll tell you when you are older" or trying to distract as that can create anxiety as kids can pick up on your reluctance.

I'm fine with it, they've used women and not one of the daft non women phrases. I wouldn't want a transman to miss out on something so important just because I don't agree with their ideology.
As for your child reading it, really? I was in a local government building the other day and there were adverts for sexual health clinics in the toilets. Just treat your explanation like religion - some people believe in this etc. It's no big thing.

Oh kids and difficult chats, it's so tough when they're little to find the right words for every conversation. 5/6/7 especially when they seem mature enough for the discussion but realistically they're not.

I had to take my little lad for a wee in the waiting area of the hosptial last year and inside the cubicles were massive posters with awareness FGM, the area this hospital is in has a large population of women from places FGM is still practised. He like your DD was 6.
He was asking me about it loads and I just didn't know what to say, so I did the greatest parenting of my life and gave him my phone and asked, "what's that blippi clip you love again, show me?" Which thankfully worked. I felt bad for not discussing it with him, I'm usually very open about things with my kids. But 6 just felt too little to explain something so enormous.

But my gosh am i glad its there. If that poster gives one of the lasses who use that toilet some information and saves one little girl from being mutilated then it's a job well done. Same I guess as the poster in your gp area, it's a difficult chat to have with our kids but if it saves anyone from not discovering they've cervical cancer, then it's done it's job.

I know they're very different situations. My ds has knowledge of transpeople as I've 2 trans friends and he has a friend at school who doesn't present as their biological sex. I hope I've worded that correctly. But he doesn't understand the gravity of being trans. He takes it very much on face value, "aunty Kelly was a man, now she's a woman", but when he's old enough to discuss it more in depth I will.

I was on a bus once and my lad was reading my texts (before what's app... ancient times!) And shouted, "WHAT IS A COCK?" so fucking loud.
The text was my pal asking if I fancied a cocktail night.
Every single person on that bus to this day thinks I was sexting 10am whilst taking my son to football. And it still makes me die a wee bit inside.

This has nothing to do with pandering to the idea you can change sex. It doesn't invite men to cervical screening, it clearly invites transmen and non-binary people, i.e. people who have a cervix - which is obviously necessary.

Just sit somewhere where she is not facing the poster? And if she still reads it and asks questions, woman up and answer them.

What's wrong with a rainbow lanyard?

'Believes in the tooth fairy'

Yes it's tricky selecting which lies to let your kids believe in 😂

I think the poster sounds great. Often the argument I see here is that phrases like 'people with cervixes' excludes women. This poster doesn't do that. It's important that everyone accesses healthcare, even if you don't agree with their take on gender identity.

Explaining adult concepts to kids is part of parenting.

And the rainbow lanyard might help someone who was embarrassed/awkward about seeking medical help feel comfortable to do so.

Unfortunately mnhq have asked posters not to comment on a similar line on chat or aibu.
Women and people with cervix.
They don't want to derail the thread.. I see it as a first step together the inevitable shutting down open conversation about this.
People always derail subjects, mn chat can start about family Sunday lunch and end up talking about a rare mole in the Sahara.

Why don't your colleagues just wear a lanyard with your employer's name on it, @Brainworm? Forget all the rainbow nonsense.

I got bit bogged down in all your 'who trusts/doesn't trust' whom argument, tbh, but does it occur to the rainbow brigade that if they think they are signalling 'LGBTQIA++++ people can trust me' then it might imply that non-rainbow staff are not to be trusted?

How about going back to the expectation of all being treated with courtesy and making an official complaint against any individual who flouts this?

Well some biological women see themselves as transmen and wouldn't want to be called women. I don't see why this should upset you. The poster is just trying to reach everyone.

They’re doing it to avoid the possibility of getting sued for discrimination. Most people are emotionally intelligent enough to grasp that the term women would include anyone who has a cervix without splitting hairs over inclusivity, but the self righteous amongst us must be pacified because it’s aggravation no one really wants.

making a complaint will not make any difference and you’re likely to get struck out of the surgery with a rude letter calling you a bigot regardless of how articulate you are

I understand why you are uncomfortable OP. It is normalising nonsense. We should expect our public institutions and organisations to be neutral to contentious ideas. This is where the discomfort comes in. Things should go back to how they were. Society had reached a place of maturity and tolerance around 10 years ago. This kind of ridiculousness puts that at risk. For those saying "this is the world we live in" presumably you mean just go with it. Is there any point at which you might pause and think well that's not quite right. At what point might that be?

It’s a very indelicate way to talk women isn’t it?

Men feel pretty comfortable with the blokey “Men, get your prostate checked”.

It doesn’t work to speak to women in such a direct, blokey, indelicate manner, when we feel much more on the defensive and on the alert about sexual violation at all times than men.

That wording seems designed for the benefit of women who identify as men, exclusively- to make the cervix sound like a blokey body part.

”Get yer cervix checked while fixing your motorbike. Bish bosh. Job done.”.

Another thing. The cervix isn’t ‘checked’ is it? When men get their prostate checked, they can be told the and there if they need to take things further and have more tests.

A cervical smear is not a ‘check’ in the same way - it’s a swab that needs to be checked by someone else in a lab. However, you can get your cervix ‘checked’ for dilation when in labour, which is not what they are asking in that poster.

Was thinking the same thing.
They've been stonewalled and maybe they think it's the old fashioned stonewall that fought for lgb equality and maybe they know it's the 1984 non-inclusive stonewall. Unless you're kjk watch your pronouns.🤗🙄

How do you expect the receptionist to decide what genitals they have by looking at a fully clothed patient.

That would do it

By using their eyes. I can easily differentiate a man from a woman, most people can.

Has anyone seen similar posters for those with male specific health problems (prostate issues, erectile dysfunction) including TWs and NBs? It doesn’t seem to be a thing as far as I’m aware.

As long as you can tell the difference between a man and a trans man of course.

The poster being discussed advised transmen to get their cervix checked.

This ⬆️

What a drama!! and all over a poster that makes it clear anyone with a cervix should have a smear!!