Bristol Council insists women be called ‘people with ovaries’

[IwantToRetire]

The comments were made in a 39-page response to a consultation by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) on updates to its guidance, following the ruling that sex in equality laws refers to biological sex.

It wrote that “not all pregnant individuals would use the pronouns ‘she/her’” so it could lead to “emotional and psychological distress” for “trans men, non-binary, gender diverse or intersex individuals”.

“We strongly advise the use of more inclusive language such as using ‘they/them’ to refer to all individuals, or include other identities to reflect the diversity of individuals who access maternity or paternity services,” officials said.

“This could include ‘people with ovaries’ or the term ‘people who use paternity services’. We also recognise that individuals may not identify with the word maternity and prefer paternity as it is gender neutral.

“Additionally, it is unclear what support will be available to trans people who chest-feed to ensure they are protected from discrimination.”
Protections based on biological sex are “too vague”, the response added, as: “It is unclear whether it refers to anyone capable of pregnancy, or only those who were assigned female at birth.”

Council officials complained that the new guidance implies that “trans women are not ‘really’ women” and risked “creating a hostile environment in public services”.

Full article at https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/09/22/council-says-women-called-people-with-ovaries/

And at https://archive.is/TOgKA

That goes for anyone though. I regularly look after women who dont know what a cervix is. Some women without a cervix may also be confused about whether they (still) have to have smears. Women aren't stupid, believe it or not. Even the ones who aren't British know something about their bodies...

And of course English is the only Latin based language...

It's no more 'my term' than 'vascular dementia' or 'Corporation Tax'.

Although "So you say this is taxable profit? So you want to make it so everyone has to be included in your term rather than being able to choose their own?" would be an interesting challenge to HMRC.

Yes, obviously all adult female people have to be included in a term that means "all adult female people". Otherwise it no longer means "all adult female people".

That sentence has five superfluous words in it.

No its a term that you identify with and sk you think everyone else like you should too. Because somehow you feel like if someone with boobs and a vagina think they are a man, it lessens your womanhood. It's odd.

India Willoughby thinks he is a woman with a cervix.

Should he attend?

It's not a term we identify with, it is a factual, science-based term.

So most effective way to communicate is to use 'women' and explain what a cervix is, not use language that obscures who might have one.

And one of the easiest ways to explain what a cervix is, is to say that it is a body part that women have.

Has he got a cervix? I dont know who that is.

You identify with it because it speaks to your model of science and biology. That's not the model that everyone uses when it comes to personal identity.

No its to say that it is the opening or neck of the womb. I talk about it every day.

"With a cervix" isnt superfluous.

And what is the womb? Another body part that women have.

"and people with a cervix" is superfluous, because all people with a cervix are already included in the word "women".

All this money that’s spent on nonsense would be far better being used on the front line reducing wait times for people and having more clinical staff. I despair when I see how much these diversity officers get paid to sit in an office and think up this stuff

If you are trying to tell me what I identify with and what I think about womanhood, you are rather undermining your own arguments.

As I said before, I have no concept of what womanhood is, so I don't know how anybody's concept of it it could affect mine. I just know that my sex is female, and that is why I had periods and no longer do because I have gone through menopause, why I, not my husband, gave birth to my children, why I did the breastfeeding, and why I got a sex specific cancer.

It wasn't my identity that led to any of these things. It was my sex.

Do you think people also identify with their blood type? Their genetic predisposition to certain diseases?

Adult pregnant women really dont need an explanation of what a womb is. They might need a translation. Women arent idiots. Even foreign women aren't idiots.

I am appalled and genuinely think that the ideological crap some people come out with brings their profession into disrepute.

Oh haven't you met the O neg folks?!

You shouldn't be appalled at providing individualised holistic care in maternity services. It's weird that you are.

Some women don't have a cervix and so don't need screening. And no i dont mean transwomen. Think outside your tiny box.

Thats not what you are doing.

HTH

It refers to everyone who believes it is apt for them. You, me, most other women. It shouldn't have to apply to everyone you feel it should to still feel apt for you.