As holes go, they are arguably the most important in the world. Every man and woman ever to have lived – except those born by caesarean section – has sprung forth into this world from one.
And yet a charity dedicated to women’s health, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, is suggesting that the word ‘vagina’ could be referred to as the ‘bonus hole’ to avoid offending or excluding trans men or ‘non-binary’ people.
As a feminist campaigner, I am appalled. I’ve spent time over the decades trying to raise awareness among women about our bodies.
I’ve encouraged women to unlearn the shame associated with our biology.
So the idea that we should stop referring to the vagina by its name is grossly offensive.
As a feminist campaigner, I am appalled. I’ve spent time over the decades trying to raise awareness among women about our bodies (STOCK IMAGE)
I recall, back in the Eighties, buying tampons only to have the shopkeeper quickly put the box in a brown paper bag as if it were a porn magazine (STOCK IMAGE)
I grew up absorbing the message that our bodies were dirty.
We would use euphemisms to describe its parts, because ‘vagina’ and even ‘breast’ were considered unpleasant.
I recall, back in the Eighties, buying tampons only to have the shopkeeper quickly put the box in a brown paper bag as if it were a porn magazine. But we feminists learned to take pride in our physical form.
I would shake the tampons out of the bag to make the point that I was not ashamed of menstruating. After all, it’s a reality for half the population.
It’s worth noting that this form of McCarthyite censorship is reserved for descriptions of female anatomy only. That’s why this is nothing short of misogyny.
There is no such suggestion, of course, to swap words that men use to describe their biology.
Perhaps, to be fair, we should change ‘penis’ to ‘flesh roll’ to avoid offending trans women? I’m sure men won’t object. Just a thought.
As a cancer charity is accused of ‘dehumanising’ women with new inclusive language, is ‘bonus hole’ the craziest euphemism yet in the trans debate?
By Dan Sales and Chris Pollard for The Mail on Sunday
A cancer charity has been accused of ‘dehumanising’ women after advising medics to refer to the vagina as a ‘bonus hole’ to avoid upsetting transgender men.
Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust features a glossary on its website detailing ‘the correct language’ that healthcare professionals should use when dealing with trans men – women who identify as men.
As well as ‘bonus hole’, it also suggests the term ‘front hole’ as an alternative to vagina, the use of which it claimed may leave patients feeling ‘hurt or distressed’.
Women’s rights campaigners last night rounded on Jo’s, the UK’s only charity dedicated to women affected by cervical cancer. Bev Jackson, of the LGB Alliance, said: ‘Disgusting language like this which intentionally dehumanises women must be rejected by all reasonable people.
‘The fact is, women have vaginas. It’s appalling that anyone would think that reality is offensive. If you think it’s offensive, then that’s your problem.
Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust has been accused of ‘dehumanising’ women after advising medics to refer to the vagina as a ‘bonus hole’ to avoid upsetting transgender men
As well as ‘bonus hole’, it also suggests the term ‘front hole’ as an alternative to vagina, the use of which it claimed may leave patients feeling ‘hurt or distressed’
‘There is no reason for the rest of society to adapt our language so as not to offend people who are offended by reality.
‘Some people wish to ignore the very clear biological differences between men and women.’
The terms feature on a section of Jo’s website specifically for medical professionals entitled ‘Language to use when supporting trans men and/or non-binary people’.
It was drawn up in partnership with the LGBT Foundation, a campaign group calling for ‘a world where queer liberation enables meaningful and lasting change’.
Caroline Fiske, founder of Conservatives for Women, said: ‘The gender movement seems actively to want to encourage body disassociation and hatred – in other words to actively create more confused young people alienated from their own physicality and their own sex.
‘What better way than to use this utterly dehumanising language about our own bodies?
‘To my mind it is grooming: create the unease, the disassociation, the alienation, and then when you have done that, you step in with euphoric rhetoric about ‘trans joy’.
‘Of course those doing this will not be around to pick up the pieces when young bodies are irreversibly damaged and young lives destroyed.
‘Is there a mechanism whereby these charities promoting harm could be struck off?’
Caroline Fiske, who founded Conservatives for Women, said the term was ‘dehumanising’
Kellie-Jay Keen, founder of Standing For Women, said: ‘The whole thing is loathsome, but ‘bonus hole’ and ‘front hole’ are so misogynist.
‘If a woman is so triggered by the word vagina, I should imagine she needs psychiatric help rather than the world bent to her never-ending list of irrational demands.
‘You would think that charities would have better things to do than erase female language.’
Jo’s was set up by London businessman James Maxwell in memory of his wife Jo, who died aged 40 from cervical cancer in 1999.
Its current chief executive is Samantha Dixon, who has worked for a string of charities, including The Prince’s Trust.
Last night, a Jo’s spokesman said: ‘Women are our main audience at Jo’s. However, some trans men and non-binary people have cervixes, and to reduce as many cervical cancers as possible it is important we also provide information for this group and the health professionals who support them.’
