State takes on ‘woke’ language, introduces bill to ban terms such as “pregnant person” and “chestfeeding”
West Virginia lawmakers have introduced a bill that aims to ban what they refer to as “woke words” and agendas from state government content. The reasoning behind this move is concerns about the terms being viewed as sexist and exclusionary. The proposed changes would impact the wording used in state government documents, websites, literature, and in-person communication.
Specific terms that are targeted in the bill include replacing “pregnant people” with “pregnant women,” using “woman” instead of “womxn or womyn,” and opting for “woman” over “birth-giver.” These changes are meant to focus on accurate, female-affirming alternatives in communication.
The phrases in question were initially designed for gender inclusivity, as some individuals do not identify with their biological anatomy. The bill also addresses other pregnancy-related topics such as breastfeeding. Legislators suggest using terms like “breastfeeding” instead of “chestfeeding,” “breast fed” instead of “body fed” or “person fed,” and “breast milk” in place of “human milk.”
Supporters of the gender-neutral terminology argue that it can streamline communication on various topics. However, critics raise concerns about the terminology being perceived as fabricated and potentially leading to confusion. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently faced backlash for posting advice on their website for transgender and non-binary individuals considering “chestfeeding.”
House Bill 2406, sponsored by 11 delegates, is scheduled to take effect on June 1. In a related development, CDC researchers were instructed to remove words associated with gender ideology from research manuscripts intended for publication. Terms like “gender,” “transgender,” “LGBT,” and more were listed for removal, sparking debate on the implications of such language restrictions.
West Virginia University has also made changes to its diversity, equity, and inclusion office amidst claims of reverse-discrimination. The delegates behind the bill have yet to respond to requests for comment on the matter.
As the debate over language and gender inclusivity continues, it remains to be seen how these proposed changes will impact communication within the state government. Stay tuned for further updates on this evolving story.
*This article was written by Alexandra Koch, a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital, with contributions from Gabriel Hays and Charles Creitz.*
