In Great Britain, a prevention campaign against cancer of the cervix is considered violent and sexist by Internet users. In question, the formula “lower your panties” which was chosen to encourage women to be tested.
- The aim of the campaign is to encourage women to get tested in order to improve care.
- Some criticisms also concern the exclusively female focus of this prevention campaign.
“Lower your panties“is the hashtag that has been chosen in Britain to encourage women to get screened for cervical cancer… This message is part of a government prevention campaign, launched this Monday, June 7, 2021 on Twitter. Immediately, Internet users reacted by deeming it inappropriate, violent and sexist.
A gynecological examination that some women dread
To be screened for cancer of the cervix, women must perform a smear which allows a vaginal sample to be taken. However, many of them postpone this gynecological examination for fear of gynecological violence, embarrassment or simple lack of time. The aim of this campaign was therefore to encourage them to do so because this monitoring allows them to act very early. Indeed, if a woman is affected but has no symptoms, the result of the preventive smear will allow setting up care even before the cancer of the cervix develops. Thus, the chances of recovery will be higher.
“Sexual and violent overtones that are not helpful”
But the objective sought by this prevention campaign was not achieved across the Channel. All the attention of netizens turned to the form of the message, “Lower your panties“, considered “violent” and “sexist”.Some women already avoid pap smears due to past traumatic experiences – this hashtag does nothing to make them more comfortable“, can we read in a tweet. One other also deplores the message sent by this campaign: “Ask women to [baisser leur culotte] has sexual and violent connotations which are not helpful when it comes to cervical cancer screening“.
The state of the hashtag #DropYourPants
Some women already avoid smears because of previous traumatic experiences – this hashtag is doing nothing to make those women more comfortable. https://t.co/5hJresR3fn— Redacted* (@iamredacted) June 7, 2021
Transgender people or non-binary people excluded?
Some Internet users have also criticized the exclusively female focus of this prevention campaign. So Samantha Dixon, chief executive of the national charity Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, has governed with the BBC : “The majority of people who might benefit identify as female, but transgender men or non-binary people can also have a cervix; therefore it is important that no one feels left out or thinks testing is not for them” and continue “As noted in the official press release, this includes women, transgender men, non-binary and intersex people, ages 25-65.”.
According to Public health France, nearly 3,000 women develop cervical cancer each year and 1,000 die from it. In France, the Health Insurance recommends being screened 1 year apart for the first two smears then, if the results are normal, every three years.
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