“The Institute of Health Visiting has adopted an additive approach to the language that we use. This approach aims to add and not take away – and is in line with NHS England guidance and the UK-wide inclusivity statement jointly issued by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and the Royal College of Midwives. It preserves women/men-centred language as well as including language for those who identify in other ways. Families are diverse and we will strive to ensure that everyone is represented and feels included.”
- Note: To ensure that we achieve both clarity and inclusivity we will use sex-specific terms when referencing research which relates to biological sex.
- Using language that people are comfortable with ensures we are supporting services to provide personalised care for every person. Most health visiting service users are women, and there is language in place that they are comfortable with and is widely understood. We will continue to use the terms ‘woman’ and ‘mother’ and talk about breastfeeding alongside additive language to support inclusion.
- While we refer to women in our resources, we recognise that some transgender men, gender-diverse people, and people who are intersex may be affected by some of the same issues. We also recognise that people who are trans, gender-diverse or intersex have specific needs, experiences and health issues that need addressing. The use of the term “women” in our resources is not intended to exclude other groups or overlook the challenges they face.
