The absolutely infuriating thing is that trans people, if they are being honest KNOW that they have do not have a cervix. They know the reality of the parts they were born with. There are women who might not know what a cervix is ( those with learning difficulties, those who use English as a second language). The NHS is putting the feelings of men above disadvantaged women.
Even the easy read formats of of the latest cervical cancer info will not contain the word woman.
Stonewall of yore sought equality and acceptance of people for what they are. Now the gender id extremists have flipped this 180° and require acceptance of people for what they aren't.
I agree with all of that, but for me objecting to the exclusion of the word 'women' shouldn't be based on whether some women might be particularly disadvantaged because of compromised linguistic or comprehension ability. No one has to find specific reasons why it isn't a good thing. The mention of women being erased from medical literature that refers only to them on the basis of their sex not their gender identity, is entirely unacceptable independent of any additional consideration.
I totally agree. I work as a support worker. Muddying language is a particular sticking point of mine. It's difficult to engage people as it is without the use of biological terms women may never have heard of. Of course none of us should be referred to as "cervix Havers" it's so degrading.
It's as degrading as it's intended to be. All that language, 'cervix havers', 'menstruators', 'bleeders', etc., is saturated with misogyny. If contempt for women wasn't as deeply embedded as it obviously is, everyone outside the world of extremist activism would be appalled by this abusive and dehumanising terminology. They wouldn't adopt it or attempt to standardise it.
And mine. It's crucial for safety in most sectors. I was also sent another NHS letter - from another detached arm of the former NHS - that was bizarrely nonsensical, saying I was moving from the 'community' to guess what, the 'community'. What a relief that was! I truly have no clue what that might mean, or if anyone does as no one seems to care much. Not sure what to do other than continue to ignore them as I wasn't receiving any treatment from them anyway. In a sensible system that should prompt some action or review from someone somewhere.
I have excellent care from a London Hospital team and they shake their head if I ever describe 'how I've been getting on' in the jokingly referred to 'community'. They acknowledge the swirling madness and we try to work around it.
I got my screening reminder letter in ye olde poste today and it still said women. A good, clear letter with no mention of gender, identity or cis. I smell a big smell to do with NHS Digital and comms here. Fucking about with tech, messaging and websites seems a speciality of theirs. NHS North of England Commissioning Support provide the Cervical Screening Administration Service on behalf of NHS England and NHS Improvement.
It does not help when all arms of the supposed NHS (or what is badged as such) are pulling in different whackadoodle directions.
I love the word wackadoodle. Respectfully, believe it's spelled without the H, as a humorous elongation of the word “wacky.” As in, not just wacky—kookoo, ditzy—but quite blissfully divorced from reality. Also see “wackjob” a nastier pejorative.
I concur, and of course. I was feeling particularly aggrieved reading JL's piece and wanted to put an onomatopoeic oomph to it (think of Helen Staniland saying 'whole' and it comes close).
Heh heh. Always helpful to have the big technical manual close by for variations of “insane” on the issue of transactivism and its encroachment into our civic institutions and health providers.
I agree. Why is the NHS erasing women and the language that helps women identify themselves as the target audience of various health messages? Fully intact trans men know damn well that health messages directed at "women" include them BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY HAVE WOMEN'S BODY PARTS. Fully intact trans women know that health messages directed at "men" include them BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY HAVE MEN'S BODY PARTS.
This is a genuine question. What is a fully intact transman? One who still has her womb and ovaries? If you have a hysterectomy do you still have a cervix? Genuine question. Not a biologist!
Not a biologist either, but if you can, and you haven't already, try to listen to Tracey Emin speak about what she has gone through over the past few years, and the extensive and hugely invasive surgery she had. It's the first time I've really heard a woman, and a member of the 'public' speak so openly and in such detail. She's very open on how she thinks about herself as a woman.
When she's been interviewed she's often spoken tentatively and asked if she 'can' talk about some words as they are almost swear words, or it's almost culturally dirty to name our organs. I know she is known for her swearing, but I found her honesty speaking on this quite beautiful.
It's been hard for me to know what's going on for the women in my life as many use such impenetrable and cloaked language I really have no idea what they're on about, if I've known at all (but had to guess and work around it). When I was lifting very large objects after someone's hysterectomy I realised just what my own body structure and musculature were up to.
Thank you for the recommendation. I will certainly watch. I used to think Tracy Emin was loud and vulgar... now I think she was maybe being exploited by the media; she definitely had personal struggles. I certainly admire her openness about this.
I'm curious, are you a woman or a man? I hope you don't mind me asking. I'm guessing the latter seeing as you mention "the women in my life". Thanks 🙏
I'm a woman :-) and of course I don't mind. Perhaps I should have said other women. I sometimes feel like a small child still as I always wondered if you remove something, what happens in the gap.
I've been reading the harrowing account by TullipR on Twitter and also covered by Dennis Noel Kavanagh. His graphic description brought to mind some biology text books and pregnancy book illustrations. About how deep some organs extend internally behind their external appearence - thinking of the clitoris and penis. Those diagrams stayed with me. How any surgeon thinks they could lop something off or 'add' a 'neo' vagina seems even crueller.
I am trained to present myself or write in an odd, pretend objective voice, so it didn't surprise me that you thought I was a man. Then I go and spoil it all by getting all sweary and wanderingly uterus like ;-)
Mark Drakeford makes it clear how uninterested he is in dialogue in his first statement, that "trans women are women". If that's the case, then as far as he's concerned they can be excluded from nothing, whether it's women's sports or women's spaces. It doesn't matter how many assurances are offered that wanting fairness for women does not imply a desire to deny the rights of trans people. Even so, I am thoroughly sick of hearing this one sided reassurance.
Drakeford, like so many of his political colleagues, is either a gutless fuck or a misogynist. Either way, he is not fit to influence decisions or represent anyone.
LP, LD, SNP, Greens etc have failed to consider the fundamental impact of asserting obvious drivel. Vast majority of the electorate know about the birds and the bees. How many potential voters are they losing because K Starmer can't bring himself to correctly talk about basics of human biology and N Sturgeon asserts defining 'women' would hurt "trans women". Using a word you're too scared to define is a special kinda stupid. But so is denying the demonstrable truths of human biology.
From recent statements I would suggest both. I feel very let down by him and the loons projecting this. The structure of words and sentences is changed according to whether the words are masc or fem (mutations) in Welsh. I have received a puzzled look whenever I have asked language authorities on this. Like asking if a mountain is flat or water is dry.
He's a gutless fuck and I'll bet he's not married to a "transwoman." There are plenty of women who are very weak, but men ... men wear their cowardice as a badge of honor.
I'll bet he's not married to a transwomen too. Maybe his view of transwomanhood is a bit like the one some transwomen who are attracted to women seem to have. I get the impression they're a lot keener on dating women who were born that way than they are each other, despite that they're all women.
There seem to be a lot of trans couples on social media. Transman + transwoman. That's actually pretty conventional though of course they don't like to call themselves "het". I imagine at least they can support each other and there'll be mutual understanding.
Do you think there is any understanding in Gross Lavatory's "relationship"? There used to be one of these couples doing Transradio; they actually came to accept themselves as female and male, and started speaking out against some aspects of transgenderism. But I am guessing that most of those trans couples you mention are based on the Lavatory model: abusive male forcing his wife to put on a costume for his fetishism.
What's really weird is that a lot of the time the only people interested in relationships with them are other trans. And then you end up with one trans murdering his trans partner because men are not taught how to smooth difficulties in relationships.
Thank you. Gosh. So utterly depressing. Re Scotland, I have just returned from Iona, home to the Iona Community, a non-denominational evangelical Christian group. They have a small book section in their shop, it has maybe eight shelves. One whole shelf is taken up with "Gender" with books called things like 'The transgender Christian'. Only one and a half shelves on "Justice and Peace" which is one of their founding concerns. Other shelves dedicated to climate justice and social issues. No shelves at all on disability or sexuality. It seemed ludicrous :(
This is why I am avoiding church though I would like to attend. I don't know of any that have not been captured by transgenderism except the extreme fundamentalists and I have no interest in another version of fundamentalism.
Omitting the word “woman” from health notices having to do with preventing cervical CANCER is medical malpractice. Pap tests have prevented countless deaths of women.
Women who don’t understand notices will ignore them, which prevents them from getting free tests that can detect easily preventable cancer.
Health information is supposed to be CLEAR, not OPAQUE. If MPs don’t know what a cervix is, how the eff are low-educated women or young women or non English speakers supposed to know?
Yup and using terms from Latin or Greek is lovely for keeping the medical mystique up so we can all bow down to those more educated than us, but it's not a fucking power play, it's our healthcare and all of us, no matter our background or level of education need to be engaged and helped to be in charge of it. I love it when medics are astounded when I understand them. Bit of a giveaway and when some ask what my profession is. Ah I can then accord this person some respect. You see them cogs whirring and re-rating you on the scale.
There was someone studying horticulture in my student halls and apparently quite a few dropped out early on after being made to memorise the Latin names for plants. It was what the medics were also doing. I can spout off formal, old, new and common names for most things bodily or land related but when it becomes a block to communication means it's about more than getting knowledge or information across.
"“Increasingly, it seems that the views of the Scottish people are immaterial. All that matters are the beliefs of a tiny activist elite who are on first name terms with government ministers and backbench MSPs. It is irrelevant if their activism damages society or harms individuals…"
Thanks for all your hard work Graham, your updates are invaluable to the cause. May I point out a wee typo, on the item on the NCWI - "which is funded in so small part" I think you meant to say 'in no small part'. xx
It's by JL, her initials are just under the title, and yes, I thank her for all her hard work too...I'm mightily glad this piece followed the dire (but brilliantly researched) one from earlier.
I can't help it. I loathe and despise Mark Drakeford, he should be removed as First Minister. He is a moron and a menace to women, with no understanding of science or what would be beneficial to the health of people in Wales, especially for women. It's become evident that he doesn't even know what a woman is, even though I think he's married to one!
The absolutely infuriating thing is that trans people, if they are being honest KNOW that they have do not have a cervix. They know the reality of the parts they were born with. There are women who might not know what a cervix is ( those with learning difficulties, those who use English as a second language). The NHS is putting the feelings of men above disadvantaged women.
Even the easy read formats of of the latest cervical cancer info will not contain the word woman.
Stonewall of yore sought equality and acceptance of people for what they are. Now the gender id extremists have flipped this 180° and require acceptance of people for what they aren't.
Well put!
I agree with all of that, but for me objecting to the exclusion of the word 'women' shouldn't be based on whether some women might be particularly disadvantaged because of compromised linguistic or comprehension ability. No one has to find specific reasons why it isn't a good thing. The mention of women being erased from medical literature that refers only to them on the basis of their sex not their gender identity, is entirely unacceptable independent of any additional consideration.
I totally agree. I work as a support worker. Muddying language is a particular sticking point of mine. It's difficult to engage people as it is without the use of biological terms women may never have heard of. Of course none of us should be referred to as "cervix Havers" it's so degrading.
It's as degrading as it's intended to be. All that language, 'cervix havers', 'menstruators', 'bleeders', etc., is saturated with misogyny. If contempt for women wasn't as deeply embedded as it obviously is, everyone outside the world of extremist activism would be appalled by this abusive and dehumanising terminology. They wouldn't adopt it or attempt to standardise it.
And mine. It's crucial for safety in most sectors. I was also sent another NHS letter - from another detached arm of the former NHS - that was bizarrely nonsensical, saying I was moving from the 'community' to guess what, the 'community'. What a relief that was! I truly have no clue what that might mean, or if anyone does as no one seems to care much. Not sure what to do other than continue to ignore them as I wasn't receiving any treatment from them anyway. In a sensible system that should prompt some action or review from someone somewhere.
I have excellent care from a London Hospital team and they shake their head if I ever describe 'how I've been getting on' in the jokingly referred to 'community'. They acknowledge the swirling madness and we try to work around it.
I got my screening reminder letter in ye olde poste today and it still said women. A good, clear letter with no mention of gender, identity or cis. I smell a big smell to do with NHS Digital and comms here. Fucking about with tech, messaging and websites seems a speciality of theirs. NHS North of England Commissioning Support provide the Cervical Screening Administration Service on behalf of NHS England and NHS Improvement.
It does not help when all arms of the supposed NHS (or what is badged as such) are pulling in different whackadoodle directions.
I love the word wackadoodle. Respectfully, believe it's spelled without the H, as a humorous elongation of the word “wacky.” As in, not just wacky—kookoo, ditzy—but quite blissfully divorced from reality. Also see “wackjob” a nastier pejorative.
I concur, and of course. I was feeling particularly aggrieved reading JL's piece and wanted to put an onomatopoeic oomph to it (think of Helen Staniland saying 'whole' and it comes close).
And is kookoo not cuckoo?
oops
Full disclosure: I'm stealing whackadoodle.
It's not mine. It's highly technical though, so make sure you refer to the big manual on its use ;-)
(I've just ruined the word in my head realising that our PM might like the sound of it).
Heh heh. Always helpful to have the big technical manual close by for variations of “insane” on the issue of transactivism and its encroachment into our civic institutions and health providers.
I agree. Why is the NHS erasing women and the language that helps women identify themselves as the target audience of various health messages? Fully intact trans men know damn well that health messages directed at "women" include them BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY HAVE WOMEN'S BODY PARTS. Fully intact trans women know that health messages directed at "men" include them BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY HAVE MEN'S BODY PARTS.
This is a genuine question. What is a fully intact transman? One who still has her womb and ovaries? If you have a hysterectomy do you still have a cervix? Genuine question. Not a biologist!
Not a biologist either, but if you can, and you haven't already, try to listen to Tracey Emin speak about what she has gone through over the past few years, and the extensive and hugely invasive surgery she had. It's the first time I've really heard a woman, and a member of the 'public' speak so openly and in such detail. She's very open on how she thinks about herself as a woman.
When she's been interviewed she's often spoken tentatively and asked if she 'can' talk about some words as they are almost swear words, or it's almost culturally dirty to name our organs. I know she is known for her swearing, but I found her honesty speaking on this quite beautiful.
It's been hard for me to know what's going on for the women in my life as many use such impenetrable and cloaked language I really have no idea what they're on about, if I've known at all (but had to guess and work around it). When I was lifting very large objects after someone's hysterectomy I realised just what my own body structure and musculature were up to.
Thank you for the recommendation. I will certainly watch. I used to think Tracy Emin was loud and vulgar... now I think she was maybe being exploited by the media; she definitely had personal struggles. I certainly admire her openness about this.
I'm curious, are you a woman or a man? I hope you don't mind me asking. I'm guessing the latter seeing as you mention "the women in my life". Thanks 🙏
I'm a woman :-) and of course I don't mind. Perhaps I should have said other women. I sometimes feel like a small child still as I always wondered if you remove something, what happens in the gap.
I've been reading the harrowing account by TullipR on Twitter and also covered by Dennis Noel Kavanagh. His graphic description brought to mind some biology text books and pregnancy book illustrations. About how deep some organs extend internally behind their external appearence - thinking of the clitoris and penis. Those diagrams stayed with me. How any surgeon thinks they could lop something off or 'add' a 'neo' vagina seems even crueller.
I am trained to present myself or write in an odd, pretend objective voice, so it didn't surprise me that you thought I was a man. Then I go and spoil it all by getting all sweary and wanderingly uterus like ;-)
Mark Drakeford makes it clear how uninterested he is in dialogue in his first statement, that "trans women are women". If that's the case, then as far as he's concerned they can be excluded from nothing, whether it's women's sports or women's spaces. It doesn't matter how many assurances are offered that wanting fairness for women does not imply a desire to deny the rights of trans people. Even so, I am thoroughly sick of hearing this one sided reassurance.
Drakeford, like so many of his political colleagues, is either a gutless fuck or a misogynist. Either way, he is not fit to influence decisions or represent anyone.
LP, LD, SNP, Greens etc have failed to consider the fundamental impact of asserting obvious drivel. Vast majority of the electorate know about the birds and the bees. How many potential voters are they losing because K Starmer can't bring himself to correctly talk about basics of human biology and N Sturgeon asserts defining 'women' would hurt "trans women". Using a word you're too scared to define is a special kinda stupid. But so is denying the demonstrable truths of human biology.
From recent statements I would suggest both. I feel very let down by him and the loons projecting this. The structure of words and sentences is changed according to whether the words are masc or fem (mutations) in Welsh. I have received a puzzled look whenever I have asked language authorities on this. Like asking if a mountain is flat or water is dry.
Drakeford has delusional levels of pride, he’s acting like a twit because of it
He's a gutless fuck and I'll bet he's not married to a "transwoman." There are plenty of women who are very weak, but men ... men wear their cowardice as a badge of honor.
I'll bet he's not married to a transwomen too. Maybe his view of transwomanhood is a bit like the one some transwomen who are attracted to women seem to have. I get the impression they're a lot keener on dating women who were born that way than they are each other, despite that they're all women.
That is a really good point, funny that the trans women want real women to date!
There seem to be a lot of trans couples on social media. Transman + transwoman. That's actually pretty conventional though of course they don't like to call themselves "het". I imagine at least they can support each other and there'll be mutual understanding.
Do you think there is any understanding in Gross Lavatory's "relationship"? There used to be one of these couples doing Transradio; they actually came to accept themselves as female and male, and started speaking out against some aspects of transgenderism. But I am guessing that most of those trans couples you mention are based on the Lavatory model: abusive male forcing his wife to put on a costume for his fetishism.
I guess it depends how self-aware they are! I agree, some of the well-known relationships seem abusive.
What's really weird is that a lot of the time the only people interested in relationships with them are other trans. And then you end up with one trans murdering his trans partner because men are not taught how to smooth difficulties in relationships.
Thank you. Gosh. So utterly depressing. Re Scotland, I have just returned from Iona, home to the Iona Community, a non-denominational evangelical Christian group. They have a small book section in their shop, it has maybe eight shelves. One whole shelf is taken up with "Gender" with books called things like 'The transgender Christian'. Only one and a half shelves on "Justice and Peace" which is one of their founding concerns. Other shelves dedicated to climate justice and social issues. No shelves at all on disability or sexuality. It seemed ludicrous :(
This is why I am avoiding church though I would like to attend. I don't know of any that have not been captured by transgenderism except the extreme fundamentalists and I have no interest in another version of fundamentalism.
Omitting the word “woman” from health notices having to do with preventing cervical CANCER is medical malpractice. Pap tests have prevented countless deaths of women.
Women who don’t understand notices will ignore them, which prevents them from getting free tests that can detect easily preventable cancer.
Health information is supposed to be CLEAR, not OPAQUE. If MPs don’t know what a cervix is, how the eff are low-educated women or young women or non English speakers supposed to know?
Yup and using terms from Latin or Greek is lovely for keeping the medical mystique up so we can all bow down to those more educated than us, but it's not a fucking power play, it's our healthcare and all of us, no matter our background or level of education need to be engaged and helped to be in charge of it. I love it when medics are astounded when I understand them. Bit of a giveaway and when some ask what my profession is. Ah I can then accord this person some respect. You see them cogs whirring and re-rating you on the scale.
There was someone studying horticulture in my student halls and apparently quite a few dropped out early on after being made to memorise the Latin names for plants. It was what the medics were also doing. I can spout off formal, old, new and common names for most things bodily or land related but when it becomes a block to communication means it's about more than getting knowledge or information across.
"“Increasingly, it seems that the views of the Scottish people are immaterial. All that matters are the beliefs of a tiny activist elite who are on first name terms with government ministers and backbench MSPs. It is irrelevant if their activism damages society or harms individuals…"
You heard it from me first. #calledit
Yes it's the same in Wales. We're in the grip of fanatics who are an outright danger to us all.
Thanks for all your hard work Graham, your updates are invaluable to the cause. May I point out a wee typo, on the item on the NCWI - "which is funded in so small part" I think you meant to say 'in no small part'. xx
It's by JL, her initials are just under the title, and yes, I thank her for all her hard work too...I'm mightily glad this piece followed the dire (but brilliantly researched) one from earlier.
Ah thank you so much. I do appreciate that x
oops.. thanks for pointing that out!
It's not a problem! I'm EXTREMELY flattered to be confused with a 5x BAFTA winning writing genius! ;-)
"women who protest need ‘training’." Training. FOR FUCK'S SAKE. Just put us in crates and buy leashes why don't they?
Or call it "re-education", to take place in special places which we might call "camps".
I can't help it. I loathe and despise Mark Drakeford, he should be removed as First Minister. He is a moron and a menace to women, with no understanding of science or what would be beneficial to the health of people in Wales, especially for women. It's become evident that he doesn't even know what a woman is, even though I think he's married to one!
I may be wrong but is there not an issue with Mark Drakeford’s son which could be influential here?
You aren't wrong. Mark Drakeford's son is a convicted rapist, he's either still in prison or out on licence.
https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2018-09-21/son-of-labour-politician-mark-drakeford-jailed-for-rape