Start with the insult
More of the Pregnancy and Childbirth are for Everyone bullshit, this time from a charity that helps “birthing people.” The first thing you see on their website is
Support our work
Make a donation today to help us to provide pregnancy, birth and postnatal support for birthing people in Glasgow.
The second thing you see, scrolling down, is
Who we help
We provide pregnancy, birth and postnatal support to birthing people facing barriers like poverty, isolation, or language.
Amma Birth Companions is a registered Scottish charity that supports women and birthing people who are experiencing significant adversity on their journey to parenthood.
Wo, a mention of women at last! But birthing people are always there, nipping at their heels.
Our trained team of nurturing and compassionate birth and postnatal companions offers support on a voluntary basis to people facing pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood alone.
That actually seems like an excellent charity, because of course some women and girls do have to face it alone. But how cruel to combine that with the denial that it’s women and girls who have to do the job.
Yes women got on the list eventually, but that mention was phrased strangely: “…women and birthing people”. On the one hand, women, and on the other hand, the people giving birth. Listed separately. Language is mangled so badly by these new constructions, the people using it don’t even realise their phrasing implies women don’t give birth.
Holms, or that women aren’t people. Take your pick.