Soldiers’ inclusive language ‘toolkit’ declares: Not all women are female
DEFENCE chiefs were last night accused of ‘woke nonsense’ after declaring that ‘not all women are biologically female’.
A new Inclusive Language Guide published by the Ministry of Defence warns members of the Armed Forces that using the words ‘woman’ and ‘female’ interchangeably ‘erases’ members of the trans community.
But the document – part of a drive to modernise the services – ignited claims that the military has become the latest public institution to parrot the views of Stonewall and other equality rights groups.
The guide is described as a ‘practical toolkit’ to help personnel understand why ‘certain words or use of language is hurtful or non-inclusive’.
But its guidance over the appropriate language to use about sex and gender identity has plunged the Armed Forces into increasingly fractious debate between transgender activists and women’s right’s campaigners.
In a section entitled ‘Woman or female’, the document states that the two words ‘ mean different things but are often used interchangeably’. It adds: ‘Referring to women as females is perceived by many as reducing a woman to her reproductive parts and abilities. Not all women are biologically female, and the conflation of “female” to “woman” erases gender nonconforming people and members of the trans community.’
The document includes a link to the Stonewall website for ‘further reading and resources’.
Describing the guidance as ‘shocking’, Maya Forstater, executive director of the Sex Matters campaign group, said: ‘For anybody in the street, woman means human female. If you ask for a female doctor or a woman doctor, you are asking for the same thing. This language is unintelligible to anyone who hasn’t been doing a gender studies course in a university.’
Rob Jessel, a freedom of expression campaigner, said: ‘The Ministry of Defence is the latest institution to fall into the grip of Stonewall’s aggressive, unscientific ideological crusade to destroy the concept of sex in law. Two thirds of women in the military have faced bullying and sexual abuse – how can the MoD take effective action if they can’t define what a woman is?’
Soldiers and other members of the Armed Forces are also advised to ask which personal pronouns their comrades use. ‘Try asking: “May I ask how you prefer me to address you, for example what pronoun do you use?”,’ the guide states.
It also advises against the use of the word ‘manpower’ and instead opt for the gender neutral ‘workforce’ or ‘staff’.
But, in a tweet, a former SAS soldier James Deegan describes the guide as ‘woke nonsense’.
The MoD said: ‘We are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment across our military and civilian workforce. This is not an attempt to police language use. It simply offers advice to staff on how to communicate effectively and respectfully.’