Anyone who’s ever even thought about getting pregnant probably knows some of the needlessly cruel words we have to describe a woman’s body while she’s literally trying to create life.
Things like “geriatric pregnancy” – a weirdly mean way to describe someone over the age of 35 that highlights their mortality right at a time she’d rather not think about it. “Inhospitable womb”, “shy cervix” and “lazy uterus” – when else do we accuse bodily organs of moral failure? Speaking of failure, doctors will talk about “failure to progress” and “failure to descend” during labour, which seems like an extremely rude time to be using that word. There are countless other dangerously degrading terms that leave women feeling dejected, inadequate and small. It’s deeply uncool and it needs to change.
Michelle Kennedy was over the age of 35 when she had her second baby, Nala, so she gets it. “I was considered ‘geriatric’ and that term has such negative, shaming connotations,” she says. “It adds an unnecessary amount of pressure on women. As a mother of two, I feel healthy and equipped to be the best mother I can. Given the number of women conceiving later in life is only increasing, our terminology needs to catch up.
"Many of these terms were created by men, who appear to look at women’s bodies as an object that should be cured or fixed. These terms are rooted in misogyny and no longer relevant, accurate or fair (were they ever?). It’s time that our vocabulary reflects modern motherhood and makes women feel supported, especially during times of immense emotion.”
Luckily, Michelle’s in a position to demand this sort of change. She is the founder and CEO of Peanut, the app that connects women at all stages of conceiving, pregnancy and motherhood. She and the team at Peanut have launched a campaign called The Renaming Revolution. She commissioned linguists and medical experts to develop a glossary of new terms.
It’s out today. There are some simple, sensible swaps: “geriatric pregnancy” becomes “35+ pregnancy”. “Inhospitable womb” becomes “uterine lining challenges”. So many others. You can see the rest here.
Jessica Zucker, an LA-based psychologist and author of the book I Had A Miscarriage: A Memoir, A Movement, worked on the glossary. “As a psychologist specializing in reproductive and maternal health, I hear about the myriad ways these outdated and undermining terms psychologically affect women navigating the motherhood trajectory. Women deserve language that accurately reflects their experiences, untinged by verbiage shrouded in stigma and shame. I am proud to be part of creating this necessary change in the world by taking part in this revolutionary campaign.” She’s thrilled and relieved to be a part of the campaign to get rid of harmful language; she calls it a long-overdue cultural reset.
“As women traverse these reproductive milestones, they need to hear terms used about their bodies and experiences in them that are compassionate, accurate, and free from judgement. Terms like 'geriatric pregnancy' work to undermine our trust in our bodies, and this is something I don't want future generations to experience.”
She, like Michelle, hopes that these new terms will be picked up by doctors, nurses and medical professionals like her. “I hope the Renaming Revolution sparks global change with regard to the ways in which the healthcare field frames reproductive struggles through normalizing conversations about various issues, integrating updated language, whilst humanizing various outcomes of the motherhood journey. Then, and only then, will the shame that so often shrouds aspects of womanhood be dismantled.”
Amanda Montell is an author and linguist – but she says it really should be obvious to all of us that it’s time to make some urgent linguistic upgrades to the way we speak about women.
“It doesn't take a sociolinguist to see the bias built into phrases like 'hostile uterus' and 'failed pregnancy', especially considering that no area of existence has been used to oppress women more than rules about reproduction,” she says. “We forget that language is a choice, just as what we want to do with our bodies is (or at least should be) a choice. So, with this new glossary, we want to let women know that their bodies (and emotions!) are valid, and if terms like 'birth defect' and 'tubal abortion' make them feel like a bad person or a bad mother, they don't have to use them. Folks can then share this new language with their doctors—let them know, hey, I know what a 'threatened miscarriage' is, it's abnormal pregnancy bleeding, and I'd really prefer we call it that—and if their doctors don't respect that, well then, they just don’t get to be a part of the renaming revolution, and we will take our business elsewhere.”
READ MORE: Peanut’s New Feature Is Giving Mumsnet A Run For Its Money
READ MORE: Jessica Zucker: How To Talk To Kids About Miscarriage