As the years have gone by, the world has been changing to try and make places a safer, more inclusive place for everyone. As decades have progressed, society has also progressed in their understanding and acceptance of gender and sexuality. Where many felt uncomfortable speaking up about who they were, now, the world has become a place for them to fit into society.
Small steps from companies and organizations make this possible.
From gender-neutral bathrooms to announcing pronouns, many companies have put forward an effort to make their environments more inclusive and accepting to all.
While some appreciate it, not everyone agrees with it.
There are those who feel heard and seen when companies do things like this. However, there are those who feel it is “too much” and do not understand the need for all these inclusive policies.
Recently, one UK-based hospital decided to step forward with a new language policy.
The Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust has decided to end the use of gender-specific terms in their maternity ward — which will now be called the “perinatal ward” instead.
The new regulation comes from the desire to end transphobia and other anti-LGBTQ+ mentalities.
The hospital is speaking out about the need to be inclusive to all who are affiliated with the perinatal ward as new parents or even extended family.
Instead of “mother” and “father,” new parents will be known simply as “parents.”
Additionally, the hospital is requesting that staff refer to breast milk as “human milk,” while keeping gender-oriented words like mother and father out of conversations.
In a statement released by the hospital, they said they’re happy to be a more inclusive space.
“We acknowledge the additional challenges that gender identity can have on pregnancy, birth and infant feeding, and recognise the importance of providing inclusive, respectful care to all pregnant women and people,” the statement reads.
The movement is also led by members of the transgender and non-binary community.
“We are on a journey towards gender-inclusive care for everybody during pregnancy, birth and afterwards. This journey is led by members of the trans and non-binary community. We are at the beginning of this process, which will continue over the next few years,” they wrote.
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People online were thrilled to see an organization take this step forward.
Many praised the hospital’s inclusive policy online and said it was a huge step forward for all parents and families.
Some people on Twitter pointed out that using inclusive language could improve access to childbirth care.
People who applauded the hospital’s decision said that for families who prefer gender-neutral terms, this policy could help them seek out care when they need it.
A few healthcare workers also responded to the announcement online.
Some healthcare workers said they’ve seen similar policies in nursing schools. Likely, more healthcare professionals will be trained on using inclusive language with patients in the years to come.
Many Twitter users simply thanked the hospital for acknowledging the difference between biological sex and gender.
A person’s biological sex can be different from their gender identity and many pointed out that this policy easily adapts to the needs of people who prefer gender-neutral language.
However, there was also a ton of backlash online toward the new policy.
While many online were speaking out negatively over the new policy, others apologized for those negative comments, saying, “that not everybody can be respectful or understand.”
Some people claimed that the policy was an “insult” to mothers.
A number of women on Twitter, many of them mothers themselves, claimed that the new policy was “ridiculous.”
In response to some of the backlash, the hospital clarified that gender-neutral language would only be used at the request of patients.
Patients who still wish to use traditional words and phrases like “mother” and “breast milk” will be allowed to do so. The hospital said the new policy is to guide and train staff for patients who prefer gender-neutral words.
