Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals Trust has announced that it will be using “gender inclusive language” moving forward for its maternity services, using terms like “chestfeeding” and “birthing parent.”
The trust released a statement saying that it is trying to recognize the “challenges” gender identity can have on pregnancy, birth and feeding, according to BBC. One campaigner, however, said that the trust was simply “trying to control the language of others.”
The trust went on to say that these language changes would not apply when caring for individuals in a one-on-one setting, adding that in these circumstances, “language and documentation should reflect the gender identity of the individual.”
“Our approach has been carefully considered to be inclusive of trans and non-binary birthing people without excluding the language of women or motherhood,” the trust explained on Twitter.
Our approach has been carefully considered to be inclusive of trans & non-binary birthing people without excluding the language of women or motherhood. For further info about our additive approach to inclusive language, please see our language guide https://t.co/94EnCE3UOi
— UHSussex Maternity Services (@UHSussexMatServ) February 9, 2021
The trust’s website now includes a list of the new terms, which include “breast/chestfeeding”, “mothers and birthing parents” and “father or second biological parent.”
“It’s absolutely wonderful,” Shay Brown, director of campaign group TransActual, said of the changes. “Everyone is worthy of being treated with dignity when they access healthcare services no matter what they are.”
Transgender advocate Debbie Hayton, however, has some concerns over what the trust is doing.
“Trying to control the language of others does transgender people no favors at all,” said Hayton, who describes herself as an author who “campaigns for the rights of other vulnerable groups.”
“We should be living in society, not imposing upon it,” she added.
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The trust has since been hit with tons of backlash for what it is doing from people from all over the world, and its released a brief statement trying to defend itself.
“We are taking a gender-additive approach to the language used to describe our services,” the trust said, adding that “a gender-additive approach means using gender-neutral language alongside the language of womanhood, in order to ensure that everyone is represented and included.”
Carolyn Morrice, chief nurse at the Brighton trust, defended the changes as well.
“Changing the language we use in this way is something people who use our services have been asking for, for some time,” she said. “Our aim will always be to treat everyone who uses our services as an individual, providing care that is personal to them, that meets their needs and using language they are comfortable with.”
This piece was written by James Samson on February 10, 2021. It originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.
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