Harvard calls women 'birthing people' because 'not all who give birth' are women
One of Harvard Medical School’s Twitter accounts referred to women giving birth as “birthing people.”
After thousands of negative reactions, Harvard doubled down, insisting that it “in no way” meant for the comment “to erase or dehumanize women.”
A Harvard Medical School department Twitter account referred to women using the term “birthing people” in a tweet.
To advertise a panel about “maternal justice,” the Harvard Med Postgraduate and Continuing Education account tweeted that “globally, ethnic minority pregnant and birthing people suffer worse outcomes and experiences during and after pregnancy and childbirth.”
Globally, ethnic minority pregnant and birthing people suffer worse outcomes and experiences during and after pregnancy and childbirth. These inequities have been further highlighted by #COVID19. Watch this panel discussion on #MaternalJustice. https://t.co/RcflQQapQo pic.twitter.com/N5m2s2SRdi
— Harvard Med Postgraduate and Continuing Education (@HMSPostgradCE) November 8, 2020
After thousands of social media users mocked Harvard Medical School -- which is ranked as the top medical school for research in the United States, according to US News and World Report -- the school posted a follow-up tweet.
[RELATED: Cornell offers ‘person of color’ exemption for flu vaccine requirement]
“The webinar panelists used the term ‘birthing person’ to include those who identify as non-binary or transgender because not all who give birth identify as ‘women’ or ‘girls,’” explained the tweet. “We understand the reactions to this terminology and in no way meant for it to erase or dehumanize women.”
The webinar panelists used the term “birthing person” to include those who identify as non-binary or transgender because not all who give birth identify as “women” or “girls.” We understand the reactions to this terminology and in no way meant for it to erase or dehumanize women.
— Harvard Med Postgraduate and Continuing Education (@HMSPostgradCE) November 9, 2020
Earlier this year, Campus Reform reported that Harvard’s T. H. Chan School of Public Health shared an article from Popular Mechanics, titled, “Why Some People Think 2+2=5… and why they’re right.”
The school’s official Twitter page asked, “Have you ever thought to yourself, ‘How do I know that 2+2=4? Why isn’t it 2+2+5?’”
[RELATED: Harvard Public Health promotes article questioning if 2 plus 2 equals 4]
Campus Reform reached out to Harvard University for comment and will update this article accordingly.
Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @BenZeisloft
