Terms now offensive: ‘expectant mothers’ ‘the elderly’ ‘biologically male or female’ ‘surname’
An internal document to the staff at the British Medical Association states that pregnant women should not be called “expectant mothers” as it could offend transgender people. The Telegraph details the contents which reveals new offensive terms: “The elderly”, “disabled lifts” and not state “biologically male or female”.
The BMA report, titled A Guide to Effective Communication: Inclusive Language in the Workplace, says the term “pregnant people” is a better choice to avoid offending intersex and transgender men, the union has said.
“The elderly” should be referred to as “older people”, “disabled lifts” called “accessible lifts” and someone who is “biologically male or female” should be called “assigned male or female,” according to the new article.
photo Marcus Werthmann
Under the disguise of “purely guidance” for “effective communication,” the new PC terms were rolled out in the workplace.
A BMA spokesman said: “This is a guide for BMA staff and representatives aimed at promoting an inclusive workplace at the BMA. It is not workplace guidance for doctors which is clear from the fact it does not refer to patients.”
“Gender inequality is reflected in traditional ideas about the roles of women and men. Though they have shifted over time, the assumptions and stereotypes that underpin those ideas are often deeply-rooted,” the BMA document states.
“A large majority of people that have been pregnant or have given birth identify as women. We can include intersex men and transmen who may get pregnant by saying ‘pregnant people’ instead of ‘expectant mothers’.”
The other terms targeted are: “born man” or “born woman” which, again, could be offensive to this transgender community, as they “are reductive and over-simplify a complex subject.”
“Surname” or “last name” should be substituted for “family name,” but there was no commentary on how offensive that could be to someone without a family or incapable of having one.
“Mankind” and “manpower” should be avoided because it is “not good practice” to use a “masculine noun”, instead swapped for “humanity” and “personnel”, and listing prefixes for names such as “Prof”, “Dr”, “Mr”, “Mrs” or “Miss” should not be put in a particular order on forms to avoid a “perceived hierarchy.”
This documented noted that no patients should be described as being “spastic” or “mongol,” but that they should be called a “person with cerebral palsy” or “person with Down’s syndrome.”
photo/ Rudy and Peter Skitterians via Pixabay
