Macmillan erase women (but not men)
26th July 2021
Macmillan erase women (but not men)
Macmillan have confirmed that they intentionally do not mention women when talking about cervical cancer because to do so would be too exclusive.
However, as many women pointed out, they do not deem it necessary to use “gender neutral” language when talking about cancers which affect men.
It is very sad to see an organisation that does such amazing work accepting demands of the gender lobby. This is one of many examples where dehumanising language is used to describe women, when wording with regards to men’s health is left unaltered. A recent survey showed that many women have been confused by their medical problems, as they are unable to correctly name their own anatomy. This demonstrates why it is so important to use simple language when encouraging women to take proactive steps towards their healthcare. Attempting to use gender neutral language for issues that only affect one of the sexes makes accessing support more difficult for those who really need it.
Call to Action
Ensure Macmillan know you think the word women should be used when discussing female-only cancers. Susan McDonnell has written a great letter to the CEO of the charity, and has kindly shared it so you can use it as a template.