Not allowed to run a women's health event at work

[Iamsorryyes]

And I work in a hospital!

I'm a HCP and currently have to work alongside our Equality and Inclusion Team. My colleagues are putting the brakes on an event for women's health because the title isn't inclusive and want to change the name to something else that is non binary. What can I say? Help me form my argument please?

I think you have to point out that this is the standard and broadly accepted term e.g. https://www.nhs.uk/womens-health/ and anything else is just confusing.

I agree with the proposed strapline highlighting that it is an inclusive event for anyone to find out about these health issues.

If all else fails, it's an event to raise awareness of health issues affecting menstruating, menopausal and post-menupausal people. I'm not especially gender critical, and still think you sound like a complete numpty at that point.

Or a "menstrual health awareness event". Avoid the gender or sex term and dodge the issue.

I created a survey at work and invited 'Female colleagues, however they identify,' to complete it (just to pacify the inevitable EDI pushback).

Sorry OP my original jokey reply took me so long to type you had then posted a clarification that it is just about "language".

The person leading on it wants to call it Women's Health but my EI lead is saying no.

Maybe you should suggest to the EI lead that this is a medical event and therefore it is essential the medically correct words are used.

Otherwise the event would be misleading as some would think it could be about other things.

Surely if the person leading it says it is a Women's Health event and these are the words that describe it, and it is about health to save the hospital from false misleading advertising they have to accept the use of the word Women. Their expertise in language can not trump actual medical knowledge.

It isn't a student union debate about ideas and thoughts, it is about a biological reality.

At my organisation we have things like menopause information events. They're open to men and women so that men (for example male managers of female staff or people with family members experiencing the menopause) can come along and inform themselves so they're better able to support those experiencing the menopause.

Women’s (AFAB) Health issues.
(AFAB) Women’s Health issues.

Uses the preferred term and the widely understood term.

Cervix Users

Probably not as penis wavers can also have breast cancer

But that excludes those born by C-section 😔

And includes many males who have forgotten the importance of someone else's cervix in their own existence

I took “it is for men” literally.

I think I'd maybe lead with the assertion that not using "woman" for these purposes literally erases the concept of "woman centred care" which is so important.

And no, "person centred care" is not an alternative. Woman centred recognises that historically women have NOT been at the centre of decisions about our care and a necessary correction is required.

Your EDI person needs to get their head round "additive language". A line acknowledging that "woman" in this specific context is inclusive of transmen and AFAB nonbinary people should be enough.

'Women' is enough. Until 5 minutes ago, everyone knew what this meant. Correct Language is essential.

Join the'SEEN in Health' network. They will likely have come across this before and may be able to advise.

There is a great paper regarding the importance of sexed language in maternity... might give you some ammo

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35224545/

Yeah but that could include neck problems? #sorrynothelpful

If it’s for both sexes and it’s inclusive to all why would it be called women’s health if it’s for men and women. The name isn’t very inclusive even though you’re including everyone in the event? Unless I’m missing something or misunderstanding who is actually included there’s nothing to push back on? Surely pick a name for the event that includes women and men

Our women's network had a Teams event on menopause and a male colleague wrote to ask if he could join the call so his wife could watch sitting next to him. We thought this was lovely and were glad we could help her, help him support her, and that he felt able to ask. I don't know if she was retired or worked at a small company that didn't have such events but it was fine for this to happen. The network and events are generally pitched as women, those who identify as women, those who support women, etc

So if both sexes are invited, it’s not just for women is it? Why are you including men in an even around women’s health? Is it because it’s also about including partners of women who may have this condition, such as cervical cancer?

Is it something that directly concerns women's reproductive system, or sex-specific medicine more general? If the latter, in a way it's easier to push back. Not that easy to talk about the need for specific medication regimes suited for livers wirh a cervix or differential symptoms of heart with uterus attacks. The point being, our bodies are integrated systems and everything about them is specifically female - they're not default male bodies sans penis and with a few extra bits added on.

And what about women who would like to access a support service that is purely for women? Some women may find the presence of males intrusive and would therefore self exclude.

So it’s for everyone except for men who think they’re men? But how would they know? So… it’s just an Event 🫤

Can they explain how not using the word 'women' is inclusive for those with limited english language skills or lower educational levels?

Word salad makes it exclusionary to certain groups.

Cervix Users

A bit of a play on 'Service Users' which is the newish pc way of describing patients.

Would describing the session as “Female Reproductive Health” cover it? Or “gynaecological health”?

If the event refers to a specific body part, then refer to it as something like ' cervical health awareness '.

Something men who know that they are men could well do to learn about.

"Female sexual health, everyone welcome" covers it, doesn't it?

Or stick to the biological organ/tissue names e.g. Cervix health seminar, everyone welcome or "FFS the world's gone chuffing mad - fanny chat next Monday"