Govt: ‘Women should not be erased from public language’

The Government has announced that it is rewriting guidance on drafting legislation to ensure women are not erased by gender neutral language.

The Cabinet Office made the announcement after the Government backtracked over its wording in the Ministerial and Other Maternity Allowances Bill, which originally referred to a pregnant woman as a ‘person’ rather than a ‘mother’.

The guidance will emphasise that legislation should not use ‘gender neutral’ terms instead of words such as “woman” or “mother”.

‘Insults and degrades’

A Government source stated that “women should not be erased or cancelled from public discourse – including Parliament’s own laws”.

The source added that “gender neutral language such as ‘pregnant people’ undermines women and their experiences.

“Ministers are determined to push back on the spread of militant wokery which insults and degrades women.”

‘Post-natal people’

Last year, the Royal College of Midwives apologised for replacing the words “mother” and “women” with the term “post-natal people”.

Its safety guidance for sleeping babies had stated: “Post-natal people in hospital should have easy access to the call bell system, be shown how to use it and ensure it’s working — they should be provided with a bed-side cot for the baby to use while in hospital.”

Following a backlash online, the College removed the guidance from its website the next day.