Bette Midler criticizes trans-friendly terms such as “birthing people”
tweeted, “WOMEN OF THE WORLD! We are being stripped of our rights over our bodies, our lives and even of our name! They don’t call us “women” anymore; they call us “birthing people” or “menstruators”, and even “people with vaginas”!
Don’t let them erase you! Every human on earth owes you!”It’s not clear what prompted the tweet. However, on Sunday the New York Times published an opinion piece that touched on the same subject.
Written by Pamela Paul, it criticized the use of terms such as “birthing people” and “menstruators”. It’s possible Midler read it.At the time of writing, Midler’s tweet has had over 78k likes and 13k retweets.
For many of her followers, the tweet came as a shock. It reminded some of author JK Rowling, who previously tweeted a dismissive reaction to the term “people who menstruate”.Related: Bette Midler, Madonna, Mariah Carey and others slam SCOTUS rulingInclusive language such as “menstruators” and “birthing people” has been adopted by some people and organizations, such as Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union, to ensure non-binary and transmen feel included in conversations about reproductive health.Online, many of those reacting expressed disappointment and urged Midler not to fall for arguments that claim you can’t support both trans rights and women’s rights.Writer Roxanne Gay was among those to criticize Midler’s tweet, saying, “No one is trying to erase women with inclusive language about people who need abortion care.
