So we have senior doctors going on strike.

We're in the midst of a global trade war - not that we're allowed to call it that anymore, Winston.

We have inflation potentially picking up again.

We have a lot going on in this country, not to mention around the world.

And yet there I was, sitting down to watch the news last night, and the second lead story was about whether women or people could get pregnant.

The fact is nobody in the story said it was solely women who get pregnant.

Casey Costello herself says nonbinary and trans people can get pregnant, too.

Which is true - they may have been born female, but they identify as something else.

The question is whether mass communications issued by Health NZ should speak of pregnant women to make things clear.

Here's the thing about it - the story I watched included exactly zero of these people who are so offended by the term pregnant women.

The midwives union preferred women.

The Government preferred women. 

Even Chris Hipkins said women was fine for mass communications.  

So, where's the problem?

If somebody identifies as a different gender, send them a personalised message tailored to their needs.  

The reason these things rile people up so much if because it reinforces this idea that you have a bunch of social scientists with agendas running around Wellington wasting time and taxpayer money coming up with this stuff.  

People, including I'm sure nonbinary people, would prefer a hospital system that has enough beds and surgeries slots available to cater for them.  

Surely, that's got to be priority number one in health?  

So we have senior doctors going on strike.
We're in the midst of a global trade war - not that we're allowed to call it that anymore, Winston.
We have inflation potentially picking up again.
We have a lot going on in this country, not to mention around the world.
And yet there I was, sitting down to watch the news last night, and the second lead story was about whether women or people could get pregnant.
The fact is nobody in the story said it was solely women who get pregnant.
Casey Costello herself says nonbinary and trans people can get pregnant, too.
Which is true - they may have been born female, but they identify as something else.
The question is whether mass communications issued by Health NZ should speak of pregnant women to make things clear.
Here's the thing about it - the story I watched included exactly zero of these people who are so offended by the term pregnant women.
The midwives union preferred women.
The Government preferred women.&nbsp;
Even Chris Hipkins said women was fine for mass communications. &nbsp;
So, where's the problem?
If somebody identifies as a different gender, send them a personalised message tailored to their needs. &nbsp;
The reason these things rile people up so much if because it reinforces this idea that you have a bunch of social scientists with agendas running around Wellington wasting time and taxpayer money coming up with this stuff. &nbsp;
People, including I'm sure nonbinary people, would prefer a hospital system that has enough beds and surgeries slots available to cater for them. &nbsp;
Surely, that's got to be priority number one in health? &nbsp;

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Ryan Bridge: What's the problem with the label 'pregnant women'?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/50bf2709-de84-4d18-8f4d-b2c0012d5c88/transcript