Pregnant women should no longer be called mothers, says British Medical Association
The British Medical Association had told its staff not to refer to pregnant women as expectant mothers, but “pregnant people” instead.
The UK trade union and professional association for doctors issued advice that aims to prevent its staff from offending transgender people as, while a “majority” of people who give birth are women, “there are some intersex men and trans men who may get pregnant”.
“Gender inequality is reflected in traditional ideas about the roles of women and men,” it says.
“Though they have shifted over time, the assumptions and stereotypes that underpin those ideas are often deeply rooted.”
It also suggests using “designated male/female at birth”, and recommends avoiding “phases that are reductive and over-simplify a complex subject”:
“A person’s sex is determined by a number of factors,” it concludes.
While the BMA currently has around 150,000 doctors within its membership, a spokesman for the union clarified to The Telegraph that the guidance “isn’t for them and their patients but for its staff on effective communication within the workplace”.
But this hasn’t stopped the backlash that’s come as a result.
According to the Mail Online, women’s campaigner Laura Perrins said: “As every doctor knows only females can have children. To say otherwise is offensive and dangerous.
“This will offend women up and down the country, and is an example of the majority of women being insulted for a tiny minority of people.”
Do you think expectant mothers should be called ‘pregnant people’ instead? Tweet us at @YahooStyleUK.
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