A Joe Duffy Liveline caller on Monday said they believe the term ‘woman’ should be removed from the Maternity Act in order to make it inclusive of those who choose not to identify as a woman but who want to give birth.
The language featured in the act is potentially changing and would see the removal of the term ‘mother’ and ‘woman’ and the insertion of the terms 'parent' or 'person'.
Catriona joined Joe Duffy on air this afternoon and explained: “I personally identify as gender-fluid non-binary, and use they/them pronouns, and specifically about the legislation we’re talking about where ‘woman’ and ‘mother’ comes into effect, I feel like it’s so important that people who don’t identify as women are given the same respect that other people who are able to give birth are.”
There have been many counter-arguments that suggest getting rid of the term ‘woman’ is doing a disservice to those who do identify as women and were assigned that gender at birth, however, Catriona said: “It’s not about the erasure of the word ‘woman’ and it’s not about the erasure of women as a state of being, it’s about including other people who wish to be parents, who wish to give birth to a child but feel dysphoric or don’t identify with the word woman anymore.”
The argument arose on the show last Thursday when a group of women spoke out against the changes and Catriona says it’s causing more of a divide.
“I know, and I think it did make me very angry because I was assigned ‘female’ at birth but I now don’t identify as a woman, but I don’t feel like it’s a disservice to women to take ‘woman’ out of that legislation, it’s just making it more inclusive to more people.
“I don’t understand why people can not want things to be more inclusive - it’s not like we’re getting rid of women’s rights, it’s just that we are expanding what it means to be a parent and be somebody who can give birth.
“The legislation, I feel like, is a great move towards inclusivity and equality between everybody in this country.”
Speaking about the changes that need to happen in order for Ireland to be successfully more inclusive, they said: “I feel like there is not enough education on the different issues affecting trans people and affecting women and so there needs to be more education on what’s actually going on and more initiative to get people to understand each other.”
Many listeners were outraged by the debate and took to Twitter to let their thoughts be known. One person wrote: "Had to turn @rteliveline off, so so sick of this conversation. The fact that the word woman is being taken out of maternity legislation is disgusting and shocking."
Another said: "This is the ONLY time I've ever wanted the vote down button to be available on Twitter. Why, WHY, are you doing this? It is so awful."
Among the many comments hitting out at the potential change, were some in favour of it, as one person wrote: "If women discussing their rights is transphobic then it confirms there is a clash between women’s rights and trans rights. This needs to be sorted out. Ireland has treated its women with scorn and derision since the beginning of time. It stops here."
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