Why language is so important when it comes to transgender healthcare

CATRIONA Stewart argues in her article (“Is calling women ‘menstruators’ really progress?”, The Herald, November 2) that in a bid to be trans inclusive, many organisations have felt compelled to stop using the word “woman”, and that this risks derailing the fight to end sexism. We strongly agree with Ms Stewart that it would be entirely unacceptable to not be able to use the word “woman” in political campaigning, community organising, or healthcare information. It is certainly not the position of the Scottish Trans Alliance that “In order to be inclusive and to prevent causing offence to trans people, the word “woman” has become a problem”.

We also agree with Ms Stewart that language has power. This means that it is vital that we make careful choices about language to ensure messages work for their intended audiences and do not harmfully exclude people, particularly when it comes to important health issues.

An example included in her piece is around cervical screenings, which many people find difficult procedures to attend. If every piece of cervical screening information always begins with the question “Are you a woman aged 25-64?” then trans men and non-binary people who need cervical screening will continue to be deterred from attending. It is therefore crucial that some cervical screening information is provided in a more gender-neutral way, to ensure that everyone at risk of cervical cancer feels safe and supported enough to get potentially life-saving screening.

Sadly, gender-neutral language can feel somewhat mechanical, or perhaps end up being more technical and less suited to those for whom English is not a first language. But why can we not use a diverse range of communications on such important topics, to make sure that no-one is left behind? Trans people are not arguing that all language must be chosen with a specific focus on our issues, but just for us not to always be left out entirely.

We agree with Ms Stewart that, when it comes to issues such as improving women’s inclusion in sport and representation in politics and boardrooms, “we can only lose if we allow the word ‘woman’ to be erased”. But campaigning to improve women’s rights is different to providing healthcare information or designing healthcare policies. The choices we make about language should reflect these differences. This is why it would be ridiculous to oppose the use of the word woman in a campaign to improve gender balance on public boards, and we would strongly disagree with anyone who took that position. But it is also why it makes sense to make available some gender-neutral communications on cervical screening policies and campaigns. Language does have power, and so we must ensure that how we use it empowers all of those who need cervical screening to feel able to take decisions that may save their lives.

Vic Valentine,

Policy Officer,

Scottish Trans Alliance,

30 Bernard Street,

Edinburgh.