Pezaro, S., Pendleton, J., van der Waal, R., Lachance Adams, S., Santos, M., Bainbridge, A., Istha, K., Maeder, Z., Gilmore, J., Webster, J., Lai-Boyd, B., Brennan, A. M. and Newnham, E. (2024) Gender inclusive language in midwifery and perinatal services : A guide and argument for justice. Birth. 52(3), pp. 435-447. 0730-7659.
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Abstract:
Effective communication in relation to pregnancy and birth is crucial to quality care. A recent focus in reproductive healthcare on “sexed language” reflects an ideology of unchangeable sex-binary and fear of erasure, from both cisgender women and the profession of midwifery. In this paper, we highlight how privileging sexed language causes harm to all who birth—including pregnant trans, gender diverse, and non-binary people—and is therefore unethical and incompatible with the principles of midwifery. We show how this argument, which conflates midwifery with essentialist thinking, is unstable, and perpetuates and misappropriates midwifery’s marginalized status. We also explore how sex and gender essentialism can be understood as colonialist, heteropatriarchal, and universalist, and therefore reinforcing of these harmful principles. Midwifery has both the opportunity and duty to uphold reproductive justice. Midwifery can be a leader in the decolonization of childbirth and in defending the rights of all childbearing people, the majority of whom are cisgender women. As the systemwide use of inclusive language is central to this commitment, we offer guidance in relation to how inclusive language in perinatal and midwifery services may be realised.
Additional Information:
© 2024 The Authors. Birth published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/gender_equality
Creators:
Pezaro, S., Pendleton, J., van der Waal, R., Lachance Adams, S., Santos, M., Bainbridge, A., Istha, K., Maeder, Z., Gilmore, J., Webster, J., Lai-Boyd, B., Brennan, A. M. and Newnham, E.
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes:
?? HSHEP ??
Date:
1 June 2024
Date Type:
Publication
Page Range:
pp. 435-447
Journal or Publication Title:
Birth
Volume:
52
Number:
3
Number of Pages:
858072
Language:
English
ISSN:
0730-7659
Status:
Published / Disseminated
Refereed:
Yes
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